Population development of Rhyzopertha dominica (F.) (Coleoptera: Bostrichidae) on different stored products

The lesser grain borer, Rhyzopertha dominica, is an important pest of various stored products around the world. In this study, the development, survival, reproduction, and life table parameters of R. dominica were investigated on six stored products (angelica, jujube, maize, rice, soybean, and wheat). The developmental time of the immature stage of R. dominica was shortest on wheat (40.20 days) and longest on angelica (67.04 days). The survival rate of the immature stage was highest on wheat (76.33%) and lowest on angelica (41.00%). The fecundity level of R. dominica was highest on wheat (246.05 eggs/female) and lowest on angelica (69.38 eggs/female). The net reproductive rate (R-0) and intrinsic rate of increase (r(m)) of R. dominica differed significantly among the six stored products. The highest R0 of R. dominica was on wheat (68.50), followed by rice (41.28), maize (32.32), soybean (27.17), jujube (23.16), and angelica (20.18); the r(m) values showed a similar trend, with values of 0.059, 0.046, 0.042, 0.039, 0.036, and 0.033, respectively. Our results indicate that wheat was the most suitable stored product, whereas angelica was the least suitable, for the feeding, development, and population increase of R. dominica. These findings provide basic information about the occurrence trends and characteristics of R. dominica that will be useful for the control of this pest on different stored products. The physicochemical properties of angelica should be further explored for potential application in the control or integrated management of R. dominica.