Progeny Production by Stegobium paniceum (L.) (Coleoptera: Anobiidae) (Drugstore Beetle) in Different Spices 

Sajeewani PAH, Dissanayaka DMSK & *Wijayaratne LKW 

Department of Plant Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Rajarata University of Sri Lanka, Puliyankulama, Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka. 

Published Online: 30 June 2020 

Abstract: Spices are indispensable ingredients in culinary and medical fields. Despite numerous reports on the presence of Stegobium paniceum, the drugstore beetle in certain spices, information on its infestation in locally-available spices is scarce. Therefore, the objective of this study was to ascertain the degree of infestation of S. paniceum in ten different food commodities generally used as spices and indigenous medicine. Twenty, one-month-old adults of S. paniceum were introduced into 12 g of a particular food commodity and removed after two weeks. Four replicates from each treatment were maintained at 30 °C and 65% relative humidity. The progeny adults emerged in each medium were recorded at 4-week intervals for 12 weeks. The maximum progeny was recorded in coriander followed by fennel seeds and cumin seeds. The progeny adult emergence was minimum in cinnamon, clove, dill seeds, cardamom, chilli, pepper corn and turmeric powder. This study concludes that S. paniceum infests broad range of food commodities used as spices and medicinal materials. The findings highlight the importance of protecting the spices from the infestation of S. paniceum. Furthermore, the spices having high infestation rate would serve as potential rearing media for maintaining S. paniceum cultures for experimentation.