[01] Muhammad Sarwar, Nuclear Institute for Agriculture & Biology (NIAB), Faisalabad, Punjab, Pakistan.

Knowledge of the species and habits of insect pests that damage to dried fruits and vegetables gives a basis for planning control programs. The possibility of this paper is to report on insect species involving to damage stored dried products and deals with some of control measures to get rid of losses. Dried fruits and vegetables are one of the techniques of preserving food for later use, and it can either be an alternative to canning or freezing, or compliment of these methods. Drying foods is simple, safe and easy to learn, and drying removes moisture from food so bacteria, yeast and mold cannot grow and spoil food. Although consumers get higher fiber and more potassium with dried foods, yet these are also more calorie-dense, and sweet and healthy snack on their own. Insects infesting stored dried fruits and vegetables are one of the most common household pest problems. Nearly all dried food products are susceptible to insect infestations, including dried fruit and vegetable products. Dried food product pests are often discovered when they leave infested foods to crawl or fly about the house and most peoples find the contaminated products unfit for consumption. The infestation of these dried fruits and vegetables leads to loss of quantity, quality and market value. Adoption of modern drying technologies, occasional re-drying, good packaging and storage facilities coupled with good market structures can reduce losses of these valuable crops. The first line of defense against insect pests is good management during production, second is careful harvesting and preparation for market in the field, and thirdly sorting out damaged or decaying produce can limit contamination of remaining healthy products. Yet, even when the greatest care is taken, sometimes produces must be treated to control insects or decay-causing organisms. Use of insecticides within the storeroom area is not generally recommended and normally can give little additional control in the absence of an aggressive sanitation program. Some household formulations of pyrethrins are labelled for use as crack and crevice treatments near food storage areas. There are also some formulations of pyrethroid insecticides including bifenthrin, permethrin, and tralomethrin that allow general use in home and may help to manage insects that are widely dispersed. Often it is best to never apply insecticides in a manner that allows direct contact with food or food utensils, so, remove all food and utensils during insecticide treatment to avoid accidental contamination.

Stored Products, Dried Fruits and Vegetables, Storage Insects, Pest Control

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