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

Pulses or grain legumes occupy an important place in the world’s food and nutrition practicality. These are among few important constituents in the diets of a very large number of peoples, especially in the developing countries, as pulses are good sources of protein which help to supplement cereal diets improving their protein nutritive value. These also provide substantial quantities of minerals and vitamins to the consumer’s diet. Although most legumes are consumed as dry grains, yet immature green pods or green seeds are also used as vegetables. This publication describes insect pests of stored pulses and outlines methods for their detection, prevention and control. Pulses are more difficult to store than cereals and they suffer much greater damage from insects, which not only results in quantitative losses, but also in qualitative reduction of the nutritive value because of vitamin loss and deterioration of protein quality. The milling losses in insect-damaged pulses are even higher as more breakage and powdering occur with such grains. There are a number of species of Callosobruchus (Bruchidae) that may be found attacking pulses, of which the most common and well known are Callosobruchus maculatus (Fabricus), C. analis (Fabricius) and C. chinensis (Linnaeus). Damage ranging from 30 to 70 per cent of the grains has been reported in various publications. High temperature, high humidity, softness and high nutritive quality, as well as storage in small quantities, are all conducive to insect damage. To avoid or control damage caused by pests, the producers and dealers needs to understand the problem and use current control practices. Losses may be aggravated by protracted storage, unhygienic warehouse conditions and left-over infested sweepings. A clean, dry and cool store together with clean and dry grain is the first and most important steps to successful storage of pulses. Regular monitoring and pest forecasting, use of natural plant products and bio-pesticides alone or in combination with synthetic pesticides, deployment of insect resistant varieties, and rational use of selective chemicals can keep the stored products free from insect pests.

Bruchid, Callosobruchus, Storage Pests, Pulse, Legume

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