DISPERSAL BEHAVIOUR OF THE RICE WEEVIL (SITOPHILUS ORYZAE) AND RED FLOUR BEETLE (TRIBOUUM CASTANEUM) IN SORGHUM GRAINS

摘要

Rice weevil, Sitophilus oryzae and the red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum prefer the top and middle layers of sorghum grains, respectively, for their various activities like feeding, mating and oviposition. About, 46.4 per cent of S. oryzae and 3.18 per cent of T. castaneum adults got trapped in the top and middle layers of the specially designed pitfall trap placed in sorghum grains after a time duration of 300 min. Dispersal behaviour studies help in developing behavioural manipulation techniques in the integrated pest management of the stored product insects.