Skip to main content
ARS Home » Plains Area » Manhattan, Kansas » Center for Grain and Animal Health Research » Stored Product Insect and Engineering Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #306713
Title: Distribution of three psocid species (Psocoptera: Liposcelididae) in different moisture gradients in wheat

Author
item Diaz-Montano, John
item Campbell, James - Jim
item FLINN, PAUL - Retired ARS Employee
item Throne, James

Submitted to: Journal of Stored Products Research
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/29/2014
Publication Date: 11/30/2014
Publication URL: http://handle.nal.usda.gov/10113/60075
Citation: Diaz-Montano, J., Campbell, J.F., Flinn, P.W., Throne, J.E. 2014. Distribution of three psocid species (Psocoptera: Liposcelididae) in different moisture gradients in wheat. Journal of Stored Products Research. 59:172-177. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jspr.2014.07.006.

Interpretive Summary: The psocids, also known as booklice, are insect pests of stored grains around the world, and are difficult to control with conventional methods such as insecticides. Therefore, it is critical to study behavior and ecology aspects of psocids that can help to improve IPM programs aimed to control these insects. The distribution of three of the main psocid species in different moisture gradients (ranging from 11 to 15% moisture contents) in wheat was studied, and it was observed that two of the species (Lipsocelis bostrychophila and L. entomophila) always chose the highest moisture contents of grain provided, while the other psocid species (L. brunnea) did not discriminate among moisture contents greater than or equal to 13%. Understanding the response of different species to moisture gradients in wheat could help to improve sampling and pest management decisions.

Technical Abstract: Psocids can cause considerable economic losses to stored products by direct feeding, and they have become global pests during the last two decades. We studied the distribution of Liposcelis bostrychophila Badonnel (Psocoptera: Liposcelididae), L. entomophila (Enderlein), and L. brunnea Motschulsky in different moisture gradients (11-12-13%, 11-13-15%, and 13-14-15%) and a control (13-13-13%) in wheat using a circular metal arena, which has a removable metal divider that partitioned it into three rings (outer, middle and inner). Lipsocelis bostrychophila and L. entomophila preferred grain with the highest moisture content in the different gradients evaluated. In general, populations of Liposcelis brunnea equally preferred grain with moisture contents greater than or equal to 13%. These results showed the moisture contents preferred for three of the main psocid pests of stored grains, and this could help in making better pest management decisions.