Quantitative losses in stored wheat grain caused by khapra beetle, Trogoderma granarium Everts (Coleoptera: Dermestidae)

Wheat, Triticum aestivum is used as staple food in many countries around the globe. In Pakistan’s agriculture, this cereal crop contributes approximately 13.8% to the value addition and 3.2% in Gross Domestic Product (GDP).  However, this important cereal crop during storage is prune to various insect pests. Among many other insect pests, Khapra beetle, Trogoderma granarium Everts cause a considerable loss in quantity of stored wheat grains. We studied quantitative losses in grain weight, moisture contents, insect damaged and broken grains, frass production and healthy grains. Three mostly grown cultivars of wheat namely Sehar-2006, Shafaq-2006 and Fasialabad-2008 were used to quantify the various losses. Healthy and fumigated wheat grains that were apparently free from insect infestation from each wheat cultivar and were subjected to 20, 30 and 40 larvae of khapra beetle. A total of five replicates were made for each of infestation level on each cultivar. Different levels of infestation and exposure time significantly affected all the parameters. Increasing losses were observed with increasing infestation level. We found that khapra larvae adversely damage wheat grains at any infestation level and exposure time during storage.