Prevalence and Distribution of Insect Pests in Dry Fruits of Quetta, Balochistan, Pakistan

Abstract

The study assessed the prevalence and distribution of insect pests infesting dry fruits in Quetta, Balochistan, over one year from March 2024 to February 2025. Samples of ten major dry fruit types—including figs, cashew nuts, pistachios, dried dates, dried apricots, and black currant raisins—were collected from randomly selected local dry fruit shops in the region. A total of seven major pest species were identified, with 223 individuals recorded across all samples. The overall infestation rate was 49.8%, with Oryzaephilus surinamensis (sawtoothed grain beetle) emerging as the dominant species. Seasonal analysis revealed that pest activity peaked during summer, with the highest infestation levels observed in August. The study also evaluated the effectiveness of various pest management practices, finding chemical control to be the most commonly used method; 65% of vendors reported applying Malathion 57EC. Based on these findings, the study recommends the integration of neem leaves, bay leaves, dry roasting, and salt roasting into Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategies to improve the protection of stored dry fruits against insect infestations.