Prostephanus truncatus (Horn) (Coleoptera: Bostrichidae) food preference, establishment and damage on selected stored products

Abstract

Food preference, damage and breeding ability of Prostephanus truncatus on selected food crops which includes; Zea mays L., (maize), Oryzae barthii A. Chev (paddy rice), Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench (guinea corn), Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp. (Cowpea), Manihot esculenta Crantz, (cassava), Dioscorea rotundata, (yam) Colocasia esculenta L. (Schott) (cocoyam) and Ipomoea batatas Lam. (sweet potato) were conducted in the Entomology laboratory, Department of Zoology, University of Ibadan under ambient conditions of 25-28 oC and 65-85 % r.h. Prostephanus truncatus significantly preferred dried cassava chips and guinea corn among tuber and grain crops, respectively, in a free choice food preference studies within 24 hours of infestation. Highest percentage weight loss of 78.2% and 6.9% were recorded for dried cassava chips and guinea corn, respectively. Breeding ability of P. truncatus was significantly different (p < 0.05) in dried cassava chips than all other food crops. Neither damage nor breeding was recorded in maize grain (TZM-184) and paddy rice (IRGC-106176). In Storage, guinea corn and dried cassava chips were mostly preferred by Prostephanus truncatus and inflicts serious damage on the crops.