Novel Strategies in Stored-Product Insect Control

Insect pests have been a threat to food and seed since man has started growing crops. Current approaches for controlling insects in stored grain rely largely on fumigation or synthetic insecticides. Indiscriminate use of insecticides led to the development of insecticide resistant strains of stored product insects as well as insecticide residue problems in food grains. These issues stress the importance of alternative methods for insect control. This book, therefore, provides information about the possible use of newer biologically safer technologies in the effective management of insect pests infesting stored grains/flour. The potential of use of protein-enriched pea flour as a grain/flour protectant is dealt in an elaborate manner to emphasize its importance in the management of stored-product insects. Light is also shed about the scope of a power-operated mechanical device in the removal of stored-product insects from heavily infested grains. The use of protein-enriched pea flour in stored grains/flour is a practically applicable safer technology which could be of greater value to the grain handlers, seed producers, farmers and food processing industries.

Dr. P. Pretheep Kumar is currently working as Assistant Professor (Agrl. Entomology) at Forest College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Mettupalayam, Tamil Nadu, India. Indian Council of Agricultural Research has honored him with the prestigious Jawaharlal Nehru Award for the year 2005 in the field of plant protection.