Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-t7czq Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-24T22:54:42.777Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

An Investigation of the Changes in a Bin of stored Wheat infested by Insects

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 July 2009

R. W. Howe
Affiliation:
Pest Infestation Laboratory, Slough.

Extract

One and a half tons of Plate wheat, of water content 12·9 per cent., infested by insects, especially the small form of C. oryzae, Rhizopertha, and Laemophloeus, were placed in an iron bin in May 1941. By the following November the wheat was heating near the surface and was extremely heavily infested in the 25 cm. surface layer. The carbon dioxide concentration beneath this layer exceeded 10 per cent.

During December the hottest depth in the grain was nearer to the surface. The temperature reached 37°C, 27°C. above air temperature. Many weevils came to the surface in early December and walked off the grain. Then in mid December the grain temperature fell rapidly and reached air temperature by the end of the month. A week later many insects were still alive, but by March 1942 very few living insects were found. The carbon dioxide concentration fell rapidly but rose again in March, presumably due to the increased grain water content and the respiration of micro-organisms.

In 1942, conditions became suitable for insect activities in April, and by May an infestation had started, this time predominantly C. granaria. Laemophloeus was also present, having apparently survived the winter in the bin, but neither C. oryzae nor Rhizopertha had survived. Insects were confined to the surface layers by the carbon dioxide present deeper in the bin. Consequently heating did not occur in 1942, and when the grain was moved in October 1942, its temperature was falling after reaching a maximum of 27°C. in August.

The effect of the presence of insects upon grain is discussed. It is shown that the conditions arising in the bin resemble those in general storage, except that the use of an open topped bin with airtight sides and bottom caused a much greater accumulation of carbon dioxide than is usual.

It is suggested that if the grains infested by weevils are buried in the bulk, heating is likely to occur, whilst if the infestation is superficial the grain may not heat. The part played by weevil larvae in the heating of grain is stressed.

It is suggested that regular examination of samples of grain from deep in a bulk should be made for insects and that all bulks should be examined soon after being placed in position. Routine temperature and water content readings should be made at points deep in the grain and about 10–20 cm. below the surface.

Type
Original Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1943

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Attia, R. (1939). The different factors affecting the temperature of a heap of grain in the open.—Bull. Minist. Agric. Egypt, no. 192, 50 pp.Google Scholar
Chernuishev, P. K. (1939). [About the rate of contamination of grain by pests.] (In Russian).—Bull. Plant Prot., Leningrad, no. 1, (20), pp. 4648.Google Scholar
Davidson, J. (1940). Wheat storage problems in South Australia.—J. Dep. Agric. S. Aust., 44, pp. 123136, 243247, 346352, 391395.Google Scholar
Dendy, A. & Elkington, H. D. (1920a). Report on the effect of airtight storage upon grain insects. Part III.—Rip. Grain Pests Comm. roy. Soc., no. 6, 51 pp.Google Scholar
Dendy, A. & Elkington, H. D. (1920b). Report on the vitality and rate of multiplication of certain grain insects under various conditions of temperature and moisture.—Rep. Grain Pests Comm. roy. Soc., no. 7, 52 pp.Google Scholar
Flanders, S. E. (1933). Heat production and limitation of densities in Sitotroga populations.—Ann. ent. Soc Amer., 26, pp. 529535.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gay, F. J. (1941a). A further study of temperature changes during the [turning] of bulk wheat.—J. Coun. sci. industr. Res. Aust., 14, pp. 111116.Google Scholar
Gay, F. J. (1941b). A further study of temperature changes during the ‘ turning ’ of bulk wheat.—J. Coun. sci. industr. Res Aust., 14, pp. 245248.Google Scholar
Gay, F. J. & Ratcliffe, F. N. (1941). The importance of Rhizopertha dominica as a pest of wheat under wartime storage conditions.—J. Coun. sci. industr. Res. Aust., 14, pp 173180.Google Scholar
Howe, R. W. & Oxley, T. A. The use of carbon dioxide output as a measure of the infestation of grain by insects. (In preparation.)Google Scholar
Kelly, C. F. (1940). Methods of ventilating wheat in farm storages.—Circ. U.S. Dep. Agric., no. 544, 73 pp.Google Scholar
Kelly, C. F. (1941). Temperatures of wheat in experimental farm storages.—Circ. U.S. Dep. Agric., no. 587, 60 pp.Google Scholar
Kiesel, A., Vassilieva, N. & Tsygankova, G. (1939). Translocation of moisture in the bulk of stored grain.—C. R. Acad. Sci. U.R.S.S., 24, pp. 786790.Google Scholar
Kz., (1940). Lagerschütthöhen von Getreide.—Mühle, 77, cols. 43–44.Google Scholar
Oxley, T. A. & Henderson, F. Y. Properties of grain in bulk I. Instruments for making measurements in grain stored in bulk. (In preparation.)Google Scholar
Ratcliffe, F. N., Gay, F. J. & Fitzgerald, J. S. (1940). Wheat weevils and their control.—J. Coun. sci. industr. Res. Aust., 13, pp. 229239.Google Scholar
Richards, O. W. (1943). The two strains of the rice weevil, Calandra oryzae (L.) (Coleopt. Curculionidae). (In press).Google Scholar
Robinson, W. (1926). Low temperature and moisture as factors in the ecology of the rice weevil Sitophilus oryzae L. and the granary weevil Sitophilus granarius L.Tech. Bull. Minn. agric. Exp. Sta., no. 41, 43 pp.Google Scholar
Robinson, W. (1928). Response and adaptation to external stimuli.—Ann. ent. Soc. Amer., 21, pp. 407417.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rodionov, Z. (1938). [The regularity of movement of Calandra granaria L. in grain heaps.] [In Russian.]Zool. Zh., 17, pp. 610616.Google Scholar
Takahashi, S. (1934). [Experimental studies on the causes of heat in stored grains, produced by insect pests.] [In Japanese.]—Tokyo, the author, 210 pp. Abstr. in Rev. appl. Ent., (A) 23, (1935), p. 676.Google Scholar