R.P. NAGA, ASHOK SHARMA AND K.C. KUMAWAT

Out of seven wheat products (suji, wheat flour, maida, dalia, whole grain mixed with broken grain, whole grain and
biscuits) studied for food preference of Tribolium castaneum (Herbst), the maximum fecundity (273.75 eggs), hatchability (83.75%), pupation (84.48%) and adult emergence (62.25%) was recorded on suji, while minimum fecundity 18.38 eggs, hatchability (7.75%), pupation (41.92%) and adult emergence (2.25%) was observed in biscuits. The developmental period was maximum (31.00 days) on biscuits, which differed significantly with the whole grain (30.13 days); while minimum (26.25%) (26.25 days) and differed significantly with the wheat flour (28.13 days). Significantly maximum weight loss (4.05%) was recorded in biscuits. The growth index was maximum (15.74) on suji followed by wheat flour (14.42) and maida (13.75), whereas, minimum (2.62) on biscuits followed by whole grain (3.36). The overall preference on the basis of all the parameters studied was: suji> wheat flour > maida > dalia > whole grain mixed with broken grain > whole grain > biscuits.