Behavioural responses ofTribolium castaneum(Herbst) to different types of uninfested and infested feed

Abstract

Tribolium castaneumis one of the most economically important insects that damages stored products. The effects of several infested or uninfested raw feed materials (wheat bran, coarse wheat meal, corn feed flour), feed products (compound feed for pigs and for laying hens) and flour mixed with brewer's yeast on the food-searching behaviour ofT. castaneumadults were studied in a total of 48 combinations. Preference and olfactometer tests revealed that all the tested uninfested and intraspecific infested substrates were significantly more attractive toT. castaneumthan the control (represented by part of an arena or olfactometer arm without substrate). We determined that all infested substrates were 2-9 times more attractive than uninfested in the preference test, while in the olfactometer test, they were 3-8 times more attractive. In comparing the attractiveness of the infested and uninfested substrates, in both tests wheat bran was found to be the most attractive substrate toT. castaneumadults and coarse wheat meal the least. The results of the present study contribute to our knowledge of how raw feed materials and products influence the behaviour ofT. castaneumand their susceptibility to infestation, and indicate the possible utilization of wheat bran in monitoring processes ofT. castaneumin pest management programmes.