Non-Chemical Method for Controlling Maize Weevils In Stored Corn In Southeastern United States

摘要

The warm, humid climate in the southeastern United States is conducive to costly insect infestations in stored agricultural commodities. The maize weevil is the key pest of stored corn in the southeastern United States. Infestation often occurs in thefield prior to harvest. Eggs are laid in kernels and larvae develop inside kernels. The majority of com harvested in the southeast is not dried mechanically. Corn is normally harvested below 15% and placed in storage. The corn is then dried to 12% by ambient air forced through the grain. The objective of this study was to expose maize weevil contaminated com to high temperatures and determine the subsequent emergence of adult weevils from that corn. Secondly expose high moisture harvested corn to continuous flow drying at various temperature regimes and determine the subsequent emergence of adult weevils. Results indicate maize weevil infested corn that exposure to high drying temperatures will reduce or eliminate weevil emergence. Re-infestation canoccur in the storage environment but the delay in maize weevil population increased can be economically significant.