Comparison of the resistance of various food packaging materials to stored product insect pests

This study assessed the resistance of nine different food packages (three each of paper, plastic, aluminum) to common stored-product insect pests, including the lesser grain borer (Rhyzopertha dominica (Fabricius)), the saw-toothed grain beetle (Oryzaephilus surinamensis (L.)), the cigarette beetle (Lasioderma serricorne (Fabricius)) adults, Khapra beetle (Trogoderma granarium Everts) and the Indian meal moth (Plodia interpunctella (Hübner)) larvae. Tests were conducted under laboratory conditions using cell plate and plastic box tests. Each treatment included six replicates and was repeated twice to ensure experimental reliability. By the seventh day of the cell plate test, R. dominica adults penetrated all paper and polypropylene (PP) plastic packaging while no penetrations were observed in aluminum packaging. The cumulative penetration rate of R. dominica adults in paper packages ranged from 10 % to 46.6 %, while for PP plastic packages, it was 3.3 %. P. interpunctella larvae penetrated only Kraft liner (P2), PP, and Polyethylene (PE) plastic packages. The cumulative penetration rate of P. interpunctella larvae in P2 package was 6.6 %, while for PE and PP plastic packages, they were 16.6 % and 3.3 %, respectively. O. surinamensis adults created penetrations only in fluting (P3). Neither T. granarium nor L. serricorne adults penetrated any of the packaging materials. In the plastic box tests, R. dominica adults punctured all paper, PE, and PP plastic packages, as well as thin aluminum liner (AL1) package. Both P. interpunctella larvae and O. surinamensis adults caused penetrations in various paper and plastic packages. In conclusion, the thick aluminum liner (AL3) packaging demonstrated the highest resistance to penetration by tested stored-product insect pests, while paper packages exhibited the weakest resistance.