Effect of Humidity and Temperature on the Life Stages of Tribolium castaneum on Stored Rice in Quetta
Research Article
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31580/19sx2w04Keywords:
Life stages, Red flour beetles, Stored rice, Tribolium castaneumAbstract
Red flour beetles (Tribolium castaneum) are a main pest of stored products, causing economic harm to stored rice through physical destruction to the rice, causing decreases in grain quality. This study evaluated the effect of temperature and relative humidity on the developmental stages of the red flour beetle (Tribolium castaneum) on stored rice in Quetta, Pakistan. Laboratory experiments were conducted using rice varieties (basmati, milled, and medium-long grain rice) under varying temperatures (25–55°C) and humidity levels (40–80%). Maximum development occurred at 35°C and 60–65% RH, with significantly lower development at 25°C and 80% RH. Findings indicate that environmental factors significantly influence pest population dynamics and can inform better grain storage practices.
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