BIOLOGY OF DRIED FRUIT BEETLE, CARPOPHILUS HEMIPTERUS (L) AND ITS DAMAGE ASSESSMENT ON DIFFERENT DRIED FRUITS IN STORAGE

Abstract

Two experiments were conducted to study the biology of dried fruit beetle; Carpophilus hemipterus (F.) and its damage assessment on different dried fruits in the laboratory of the department of Entomology, Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka-1207 during August, 2016 to January, 2017. Experiments were laid out in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD). In the study of biology, it was revealed that the adult female laid an average of 52.75±9.26 eggs. The adult insect completed it life cycle by 16-21 days and the incubation period, larval period, pupal period and adult longevity of dried fruit beetle were 2.60 ± 1.21, 8.20 ± 1.06, 3.40 ± 1.32 and 153.60 ± 25.32 days respectively, at 23-300c temperatures and 68-87% humidity. Morphometric measurement of different life stages of the beetle was also recorded. In the second experiment almond, cashew nut, ground nut and dried dates were used as experimental materials. The experiment concerning damage assessment of the dried fruits such as cashew nut, almond, ground nut and dried dates by dried fruit beetle, indicated that the adult longevity, larval and pupal duration and number of adult emergence of dried fruit beetle were varied in different dried fruits. The highest percent of infestation 61.83% and 87.13% was recorded in cashew nut 30 and 60 days after adult released respectively, whereas the lowest percent of infestation 25.25% and 52.94% was recorded in dried dates 30 and 60 days after adult released respectively. But 100% infestation was occurred in all types of dried fruits due to dried fruit beetle at the 90 days after adult released. The highest weight loss 11.00% was observed in cashew nut, whereas the lowest weight loss 1.50% was observed in dried dates 30 days after adult released and more or less similar percent of weight loss also was recorded at 60 and 90 days after adult released respectively. Weight loss of different dried fruits was increased due to increase of percent of infestation at different days during the study period.