CONTROL OF ACANTHOSCELIDES-OBTECTUS SAY (COLEOPTERA, BRUCHIDAE) IN PHASEOLUS-VULGARIS L SEED STORED ON SMALL FARMS .1. EVALUATION OF DAMAGE

On-farm experiments were carried out in Darien (Valle de Cauca), Colombia, South America on stored beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) to evaluate the effectiveness of post-harvest treatments designed for the control of Acanthoscelides obtectus Say and adoptability by small farmers. Three treatments effectively reduced A. obtectus damage below the economic threshold (4% damaged grains) determined in this study. Vegetable oil (5 ml/kg) reduced emergence and prevented reproduction of bruchids for 8 months after harvest. Kitchen ash (20% by weight) controlled bruchid reproduction throughout the 39-week storage period. Black pepper controlled reproduction under heavy artificial bruchid infestation. The potential for small-farmer adoption of these and less successful treatments is evaluated.