Effect of zinc fortified, arid and irrigated wheat varieties flour upon life history parameters of red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum (Herbest) (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae)

Abstract

Red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum (Herbest) (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) is a stored grain pest. Various fortified wheat varieties have been produced but data about the impact of different wheat varieties flour on life history parameters of T. castaneum are poorly understood. This study evaluated the effect of fortified (Zincol-16 T1), arid zone [(BARS-09 T2), and (Fatehjang-2016 T3)] and irrigated zone [(Faisalabad-2008 T4), (Gold-2016 T5), (Manthar-03 T6), (Fareed-06 T7), (Mairaj-08 T8)] wheat varieties flour upon some life history parameters of T. castaneum in the laboratory using age-stage two sex life table. The egg incubation period, adult male and female longevities, and total male and female longevities of T. castaneum were shortest in T5 and T6 as compared to all other treatments. The T5 presented shorter larval and pre-adult duration. Egg incubation, larval, and pupal durations and total male and female longevities were higher in T1. Total longevity (egg to adult) of T. castaneum was lowest in T1 as compared to T3 and T4 but similar to other treatments. Pre-adult duration was longer in T1 as compared to all other treatments. Pre-adult survival was significantly lower in T1 (53%) than all the treatments in which it remained at par. Lowest proportion of female adult (Nf/N) was found in T1 as compared to T3, T4, and T7. Age stage specific survival rate (s_xj) was lower on T1, whereas life expectancy (e_xj) was higher than other varieties. These results suggest that T. castaneum develop poorly upon zinc fortified wheat variety, Zincol as compared to other varieties thus it can be a good integrated pest management tool against this pest.