Life cycle of dried-fruit beetle, Carpophilus hemipterus (L.) (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae) on peanut and population development on different processed nuts
Abstract
Studies on the biology of dried-fruit beetle Carpophilus hemipterus (L.) on peanut and its preference among five different nut kernels were conducted at Post Harvest Technology Centre, Bapatla,Andhra Pradesh, India. The adult is a slightly flattened oblong beetle measures 2 to 5 mm in length. The elytra are short, leaving distal portion of the abdomen exposed. The average time period from egg to adult emergence is 33.6 days during winter and 41.17 days in summer. Pistachios and cashewnuts attracted significantly more insects (9.33 and 8.67, respectively) of dried-fruit beetle adults and the total adult progeny was the highest in pistachios (125.0) which was at par with cashewnuts (114.83). The order of preference of C. hemipterus to the processed nuts tested was; pistachios > cashewnuts > walnuts > peanuts > almonds. C. hemipterus is a pest of quarantine importance, knowledge on insect biology and its preferences to various nuts is useful to take necessary preventive measures in storage and processing units.
Keywords
Edible nuts, Storage product insects, Nitidulidae, Preference, Quality
