Occurrence of insect pests in imported stored products in Belgium during the period 1991-1995

During the period 1991-1995, a total of 286 cocoa samples were investigated on the occurrence of insect pests. Twenty-one different coleopterons, three lepidopterans and a few minor insect pests were identified. The predominant species was the foreign grain beetle Ahasverus advena (Waltl), followed by Carpophilus obsoletus Erichson, the rust-red grain beetle Cryptolestes ferrugineus (Steph.). the tropical warehouse moth Ephestia cautella (Wlk.) and the red flour beetle Tribolium castaneum (Herbst.). Besides cocoa a few other imported stored products like hempseed (19 samples), safflower (17), coffee (15), beans (9), sorghum (7), wheat (6), niger seeds (4) and rice (3) were investigated on the presence of insect pests. In hempseed and safflower the Indian meal moth Plodia interpunctella (H.) was the predominant insect. The coffee samples were infested with Ahasverus advena, followed by Psocoptera, Ephestia sp. and Acari. Tribolium castaneum, Cryptolestes ferrugineus and the lesser grain borer Rhizopertha dominica F. were found in sorghum. In beans, Ephestia cautella was predominant, whereas Cryptolestes ferrugineus and the lesser mealworm Alphitobius diaperinus (Pant.) were found very often in wheat. The most prevalent insect in rice and niger seeds was Tribolium, castaneum. One or two samples were received during the whole period for the remaining twenty-eight commodities.