Phenology and spatial analysis of some Coleoptera infesting a feed mill

摘要

Stored-product Coleoptera were collected by food-bait traps on the ground floor of a feed mill in Central Italy. A total of 3396 beetles were found during the one-year survey; a more abundant presence of specimens occurred in July and August, whereas a lesser presence was observed during February and March. The species and specimen numbers collected were different at different trap sites and changed according to the sites. Tribolium confusum du Val, was the most abundant and widespread insect, followed by Oryzaephilus surinamensis (L.), Tribolium castaneum (Herbst), Attagenus brunneus Faldermann, Sitophilus oryzae (L.), and Stegobium paniceum (L.). Large catches of O. surinamensis, T. castaneum and T. confusum allowed us to tabulate monthly trap catches for the different areas of the feed mill. Comparisons of the spatiotemporal dynamics of these pests suggest that the populations were segregated in both space and time. The spatial and temporal distributions are strongly affected by such factors as food availability, processing practices, temperature conditions in different premises and interaction among species.