Stored product entomology: Past, present, and future

While knowledge of stored-product insects dates back to ancient times, the “Past” can be traced to the early 20th century, culminating in an expansion of the numbers of researchers from the post WWII years until the early 1980s. The present era is characterized by a decline in the numbers of researchers, reduced emphasis on research with stored-product insects, and a shift in research focus from stored bulk grain to examinations of stored product pests in the milling, distribution, and retail sectors. These trends are expected to continue into the future, which will require further shifts in the focus and directions of research for stored product entomology to be maintained as a relevant discipline within the larger field of entomological research.