Management Strategies for Control of Stored Grain Insect Pests in Farmer Stores and Public Ware Houses

Abstract

In the present review article various control methods for stored grain insects are discussed in detail and an emphasis was made to use non-chemical methods. Stored grain infestation is a very serious problem as various life stages of insects cause economic damage and deteriorates the quality of food grains and food products. There are number of stored grain insect pests that infest food grains in farmer stores and public ware houses and massively surge due to un-controlled environmental conditions and poor ware housing technology used. However, for suppression of multiplying insect population highly specific and more appropriate modern methods are to be used. Few important methods such as microwave and ionizing irradiation, pheromone baited traps, IGRs and use of entomopathogens are proved highly effective against stored grain insects. Over these methods, repellents and oviposition inhibitors isolated from various plant speices are considered as much safer in comparision to synthetic pesticides. These natural pesticides have no side effect and are biodegradable in natural environment. However, non-residual non-persistent and less toxic bio-organic pesticides should be used that may not affect the quality of food grains. Besides this, low pressure and low temperature treatments are proved much safer pest management tools that represent a potential alternative of fumigants to control coleopteran and lepidopteran insects. However, for an effective control of stored grain insects various parasitoids, predators, pathogens and other living organisms are employed in natural conditions to suppress the pest population. For better protection of stored grian control computer based decision support system should be used to predict damage and operation requirements for a timely control. In addition, both biological and non-biological factors and their effects must be evaluated to check the possible infestation during storage. Therefore, selected control strategies must be integrated for effective management of stored grain insects.