Effects of low-pressure storage of food commodities on the mortality of adult stored product insects

Abstract

The food industry faces serious problems regarding pest infestation leading to high storage loss of food commodities. Due to adverse impacts of chemical preservation methods, a promising physical method of food protection could be considered as an urgent need. This study investigated the effect of low-pressure (vacuum) on the mortality of adults of three stored product pests of drug store beetle (Stegobium paniceum L.), southern cowpea weevil (Callosobruchus chinensis L.) and red flour beetle (Tribolium castaneum Herbst). The pests were exposed to 20 kPa and 10 kPa vacuum at 37 oC and 75% relative humidity. Mortality of the insects was recorded at 8 h and 32 h after vacuum treatments. There were significant differences (p 70% inside the vacuum chamber during treatments.