BEAN SIEVING, A POSSIBLE CONTROL MEASURE FOR THE DRIED BEAN BEETLES, ACANTHOSCELIDES-OBTECTUS (SAY) (COLEOPTERA, BRUCHIDAE)

The possibility of controlling Acanthoscelides obtectus in stored beans by repeated sieving was investigated under laboratory conditions at Kawanda Research Station in Uganda. Repeated sieving of the stored beans every 5 days over a period of 50 days gave excellent control of A. obtectus for up to 150 days after the last sieving. The method was effective for lightly infested grain as well as for heavily infested grain. As coffee drying trays are suitable for sieving the beans and as these are readily available in the coffee growing areas of Uganda, there is a high probability of adoption of this means of bruchid control by farmers and traders.