M.K. MAHLA1, O.P. AMETA2 AND ANIL VYAS2

Investigation on the quantitative and qualitative losses caused by insect pests in stored wheat in three districts of Western Rajasthan revealed that the wheat is infested by Sitophilus oryzae Linn., Rhizopertha dominica (Fab.), Trogoderma granarium Everts., Sitotroga cerealella (Oliver), Tribolium castaneum (Herbst). Of which, R. dominica and T. granarium caused maximum damage while, S. cerealella was found to inflict minimum damage. During June–July T. granarium followed by R. dominica was found most prominent. The population of T. granarium was 8.6, 6.8 and 3.2 insects/ 100 g wheat in Pali, Jodhpur and Jalore districts, respectively. While during September–October and January–February, the population of R. dominica was highest with 25.2, 20.6 and 14.8 and 18.2, 15.80 and 9.0 insects/ 100 g in three districts, respectively. The germination of wheat grain was highest while the infestation was lowest in the wheat samples collected during June–July while it was lowest in case of sample collected during September–October when the infestation was highest. The insect pests caused highest weight loss during September–October and lowest during June–July with a mean of 2.27 and 0.68 per cent, respectively. The mean grain infestation was highest during September–October (21.17%) and lowest in June–July (6.36%).