Emigration activity of the saw-toothed grain beetle Oryzaephilus surinamensis L. (Coleoptera: Silvanidae) in various environmental temperatures

The study pertained to the saw-toothed grain beetle Oryzaephilus surinamensis L., a dangerous pest of stored food products. The studies were carried out in the laboratory. Thermostats were set at a temperature of 31°C; an optimum temperature for this insect species, and in temperatures lowered to 28 and 22°C. The relative air humidity was kept at 60 ±5% relative humidity (RH). The main topic of the study was to examine the effect of lower temperatures in the environment, on the emigration activity of O. surinamensis. In these conditions, the population dynamics and the sex structure in O. surinamensis populations were also studied. The saw-toothed grain beetle was found to display very high emigration activity at 31 and 28°C. Lowering the temperature to 22°C caused a decrease in emigration activity and total inhibition of emigration activity until the 120th day of the experiment. A higher emigration levels among females rather than males, was also observed.