The Journal of Phytopharmacology, 2015;4(5):259-262 DOI:10.31254/phyto.2015.4504

Research Article

Susceptibility of two maize grain flour to infestation by the rust- red flour beetle (Tribolium castaneum Herbst)

Aliyu Umar¹ , Umar Shirama² , Joy Mbaya Turaki²

Aliyu Umar,Umar Shirama,Joy Mbaya Turaki

1. Department of Biological Sciences, Bauchi State University, Gadau, P.M.B 65, Gadau Bauchi State, Nigeria
2. Department of Biological Sciences, University of Maiduguri, P.M.B 1069, Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria

*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.

Abstract

The susceptibility of white and yellow maize grain flour to Tribolium castaneum was evaluated at ambient temperature and relative humidity in the laboratory were 33.6±0.21 0C and 35.8±0.13% RH. Different quantities of the two varieties of maize grain flour was infested with 5 adults T. castaneum in the ratio of 3:2. The result showed that at 20 days after infestation, there were significant differences in the number of T. castaneum larvae in the different quantities of the yellow maize. Moreover, the number of T. castaneum pupae in the yellow and while maize grain flour was statistically different from each other at 66 days after infestation. However, the results at 66 days after infestation showed that there were significantly differences in the mean number of T. castaneum adults emerged from the different quantities of yellow and white maize grain flour.