Home storage of entomology products is the study of insects occupying groceries stored at home. It deals with the prevention, detection and eradication of pests. The five major categories of insects considered in this article are flour beetles, pharmacy beetles, dental seed beetles, Indian food moths, and fruit flies.
This is an important forensic entomology branch because consumers who find contaminated products may choose to take legal action against producers. Qualified entomologists may be able to determine the identity of the contaminant species, even when no insects are found and the only evidence of infestation is the resulting damage. They should also be able to determine whether the ingredients are contaminated before or after purchase.
In the United States, companies are required by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to have no more than a number of larvae, insects or insect fragments in their products; when this level of disability is exceeded, consumers can pursue legal solutions.
Video Home-stored product entomology
Five main stored product pests
Flour Beetle ( Tribolium castaneum and Tribolium confusum i>)
Two different types of beetles are classified as a flour beetle: red flour beetles and a confused flour beetle. Both are similar in physical characteristics. They are flat and oval-shaped and usually range from about 1/8 inch long. Their exoskeleton is reddish brown with a shiny and smooth texture. Eggs, larvae, and pupae resemble each other closely in physical form, as well. Eggs usually tend to be white, or sometimes even colorless. They are very small in size and have a sticky outer cover that causes certain food particles to stick to them. The larvae have six legs, with two pointed projections toward the caudal end. Finally, the cocoon stage (cocoonlike form) is usually white or brownish. The beetle life cycle lasts about three or more years, with larval stages ranging from 20 to 100 days, and a cocoon stage of about eight days. Beetles usually breed in defective grains, grain dust, wheat kernels and wheat flour. Female flour beetle can spawn between 300 and 400 eggs during its lifetime [5 to 8 months]. The flour beetle mainly attacks granules, including, but not limited to: cereals, corn flour, rice, flour, and biscuits. This type of beetle is the most abundant insect powder of wheat flour throughout the United States. Its small size allows them to maneuver through cracks and cracks and into houses and other areas. Once they are present in areas with potential food sources, they can occupy ingredients like flour, producing a strong odor or moldy taste. The red flour beetle is capable of flying short distances and the confused flour beetle can not fly. While the confusing flour beetle is more commonly found in the northern United States, the red flour beetle is more dominant in the southern United States in warm climates.
The red flour beetle and the confusing flour beetle are commonly used as model organisms, to study genetics and ecology. The red flour beetle genome has been sorted.
Beetle drugstore ( Stegobium paniceum )
This beetle is linked to the commonly known cigarette beetle. An adult cylindrical adult beetle beetle ranging in length from 2.25 to 3.5 mm. They are a reddish-brown color and have elytra, sclerotized wings that fold into the back of the abdomen and hinge upwards, allowing the rear wing to come out to fly. Females are able to lay up to 75 eggs over a period of 13 to 65 days. Once the eggs are laid, they hatch into periods of larvae that can range from four to 20 weeks. After the larval period, the beetle larvae pharmacies move out of the substrate to build a cocoon and a cocoon. Period of pupa takes a total of 12-18 days. The entire life cycle of the pharmacy beetle lasts about two months, but it can be up to seven months. This saved product pest will occupy almost everything available. Food products that are susceptible to infestations include: flour, dry mix, bread, cakes, and other spices. Nonfood materials include: wool, hair, skin and museum specimens. This particular type of beetle has a symbiotic yeast that produces B vitamins, which allow beetles to survive even when eating foods with low nutritional value. They are found in areas that have a warmer climate, but are less numerous in the tropics than cigarette beetles.
Bean seed bean ( Oryzaephilus surinamensis )
The sawtoothed beetle is closely related to the trader's beetle beetle, and is commonly found in kitchen cupboards feeding on items such as cereals, breakfast foods, dried fruits, macaroni, crackers, etc. They are the most common grains and products that are kept pests in the United States. They are very active and tend to crawl rapidly while searching for food. They are small insects, reaching a length of about 1/8 inch. Their name comes from their projection that looks like a saw tooth found on each side of the thorax. The body of the beetle is flat and slender, and is brown in color. The size and shape of the mandible allows the beetle to easily penetrate the sealed packaged food. An adult female can lay between 45 and 250 eggs that usually hatch within three to 17 days. The larva has a caterpillar-like appearance, with a yellowish color on the body and a brown head. Period larvae can last for 10 weeks, but can be as short as two weeks. Following instar larvae is the pupa period, which can last one to three weeks. The cocoon stage is characterized by a unique process in which these beetles stick together pieces of food to form a protective layer around their body. A full grown adult beetle, in optimal condition, can live a maximum of four years, long life for arthropods.
Indian food moth ( Plodia interpunctella )
Indianmeal moths can occupy a variety of foods found at home. Coarse grains, cereals, dried fruits, and spices are common items that moths have known. They have also been found in animal foods, such as dried dog food, fish food and even bird seeds. Small adult moths; generally, their average length is about 3/8 inches, with a wing span of 5/8 inches. As an adult, moths are easily identified by the gross, greyish skin. However, the wingtips have a bronze color that helps distinguish this particular moth from other household moths. Adults have different forewing patterns, too, which are made up of brightly colored bases with about two-thirds of the distal red to copper color. The larval stage, or caterpillar, is characterized by a pink or yellowish body color with dark brown head. The larval life cycle stage of the moth is centered on food sources; during the last instar, the larvae are characterized by movement toward the protected area to the pupate. This caterpillar has the capacity to chew plastic packaging and will often produce silk that loosely binds to food fragments. The cocoon stage is generally observed as a small cocoon that hangs from the ceiling; This cocoon can also be found on the wall, as well as near the food source. A female can put more than 200 eggs, and usually will die after this process because Indian food moths do not eat.
Fruit flies ( Drosophila melanogaster )
Fruit flies are found near ripe or fermented fruit. Tomatoes, melons, pumpkins, grapes and other durable items brought from the garden are a common cause of indoor lice. Fruit flies can also be attracted to bananas, potatoes, rotting shallots, and other un-refrigerated products purchased at grocery stores and brought home. The fruit fly body is brown toward the front of the body and black toward the back. They usually have red eyes and about 1/8 inch long. Females have the ability to lay more than 500 eggs, usually in fermented fruits as a food source. The only environments needed for successful reproduction are damp films and fermented materials. Generally, fruit flies become a problem during late summer and fall because of their appeal to mature and ferment fruit and vegetables. The entire life cycle can be completed in about a week. Rarely, because of their ability to fly in and out of homes through windows and screens, they have the ability to contaminate food with bacteria and disease-causing organisms.
Maps Home-stored product entomology
Detection of infestation
Careful observation is needed when detecting the cause of insect infestation. Each of the five different insects discussed has a unique pattern of destruction. This observation is very important, because there is not always any larva, pupa, or adult available for examination and identification. In the absence of physical specimens, conclusions can be drawn about the likelihood of rampant insects by simply noting the damage that occurs in certain foods. Taking into account the type of food and damage done, an almost accurate conclusion can be drawn about the type of insect that caused the damage, allowing a conjecture of the type of control required. Having an insect specimen and accurately identifying it can lead to eradication, and ultimately, prevention.
Commonly infested foods include:
- Whole seed or cracked (rice)
- Flour, flour, or similar ground grain products
- Spices
- Cereal
- Pasta
- Candy
- Milk powder
- Nuts (whole or cut)
Other items include, but are not limited to: Rodent feed (containing grain as an eating appetizer), dried pet food, bird seed, grass seed, some detergent powder soap, dried flowers, potpourri, stuff filled with dried beans or other plants. ingredients, and tobacco products.
To identify the insects, and consequently make decisions about the type of control to be carried out, the type of food should be first noted, especially in the absence of specimens. Although identifying foods is a common beginning to start identifying insects, it should be remembered that it is not always the most accurate method, but is mostly used as a guide, as some insects are more likely than others to be found in a particular place. types of grains, flour, etc. This type of food is not always conclusive for the types of insects found in it, because insects are not very choosy, and many families and species are found on different foodstuffs. Using the infected item as a guide, noting the type of damage done to the product is the next step. Some insects, like the pharmacy beetle, leave small holes in broken products, while Indianmeal moths are famous for spiders like cobwebs left in the food they find. This observation can generally lead to the most accurate conclusions about the type of insect that caused the damage, but clearly the most accurate conclusion depends on the specimens found either directly in the stored product or in the vicinity. Larvae, pupae and adult can be found directly inside the product, while usually only pupa and adult are found around the product. It is impractical to assume everyone has knowledge of general entomology, so the following analysis focuses on the five main pests that most often occupy stored products, starting with the type of infected food, signs that indicate certain insect infestations, and descriptions. from larvae, pupae and adult, including behavior, as well as appearance.
Detection of red flour beetle
This beetle is similar to a toothed sawn beetle in both the habit and the type of infested product. This is a serious pest in the flour mill and wherever cereals and other dried products are stored and/or processed. Generally, the beetle is attracted to the grain with a high water content, and usually causes the grain to obtain a grayish color. Beetles can also give off a bad odor, which then affects the taste of the infested product, as well as promotes the growth of the fungus in the grain. This stench and flavor in various food products is caused by pheromones and toxic quinone compounds.
Determination of the sawtoothed seed beetle
Dried sawn beans eat a lot of feed, but are unable to attack intact or undamaged seeds; Therefore, larvae are commonly found in processed grains (flour and flour), dried dog food, dried fruits, candies, tobacco, medicines, dried meat, and various other stored food products.
Beetle detection of a pharmacy
These beetles will occupy almost anything - they are most commonly found in flour, bread, spices, breakfast foods, and food. In case of infestation, the contaminated product has a tunnel that has a small hole. This beetle does not sting, bite, or harm a pet or damage a house, but has potential, in major infestations, to be a nuisance by flying in doors and windows in heavy populations.
Indian food moth detector
Indian food moths occupy cereals and store grain products, packaged goods, and peeled surface layers of maize. The most obvious sign of Indian food moths is silk sewn by larvae (caterpillars) when feeding on the food surface. These silk weaves may appear or resemble spider webs inside the product container. Often, some larvae can be found in product packaging, along with 'spider webs', skin and frass.
The larvae are a white worm with a black head, which, when ready to become a cocoon, crawls the walls of the house in many cases, and hangs from the ceiling affixed by a single silk thread. Most complaints about these moths come during the warmer parts of the year - usually July to August - but moths can appear during any month. Like all insects that are important to store the product entomology, it can not be automatically assumed that the previous product is full, however, it is more common for this moth to contaminate the product before buying than the moth to fly home through a window or open door. An important aspect of Indian food moths is that larvae are the only stage of the life cycle of insects to eat stored products, adults do not.
Fruit fly detection
Fruit flies are attracted to ripe fruits and vegetables, usually in the kitchen area, but will breed in landfills, empty bottles and cans, wet or wet laps or cleaning cloths, and trash cans. The only requirement for these flies to breed is the moist film fermentation material. Infestation can come from overcooked fruits or vegetables that have previously been infested, and then brought to the house, or from overcooked fruit at home. Since adults can also fly from the outside through an insulated door or window, it can not always be assumed that the intended product has been infested before being taken home. The larvae are found in the inner lining of the fruit, just under the skin. If the outer layer of the fruit is removed, the rest of the fruit can be saved. Fruit flies are mainly pests.
FDA Rules
The degree of work disability has been a part of the food industry for nearly a century. The rate of first established defect action was created in 1911 for a mold on a tomato slurry. However, limits for insect and larval fragments were not added until 1920 on various fruits and vegetables. In 1938, the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act was established to provide clearer references based on strict limits and methods.
Large companies spend large sums of money every year to help prevent food contamination. Most of these dollars are spent well and truly, in fact, prevent food from being contaminated on a large scale; However, many "defects" are found in consumer foods every day. The Food and Drug Administration states, "it is economically impractical to plant, harvest, or process raw products completely free of harmless, naturally occurring, and unavoidable defects".
The general public proposes that companies should use more chemicals or pesticides to control these "problems," although the amount of pesticides and chemicals needed to eradicate all insects from food would pose a threat to human health, far more dangerous than the controlled quantity of fragments insects and rodents. The extent of food defects, as proposed by the FDA, is a list of procedures and guidelines that industry manufacturers and food agents must adhere to to ensure safe food services. However, this detection rate is labeled with a maximum limit. Because of the impossibility of preventing all the inevitable defects in food, the FDA is trying to prevent these health hazards from reaching dangerous levels. It is therefore understood and considered that all manufactures are allowed to have a low amount of insects and rodent hairs present in food, as long as the product is still considered "safe" for human consumption.
Prevention and Eradication
Prevention
In order to prevent food infestation by stored product pests, or "pantry pests", a thorough inspection should be made of foodstuffs intended to be purchased at a supermarket or at a place of purchase. Grain and flour expiration dates should also be noted, since the products that sit undisturbed on the shelf for long periods are more likely to become full. However, this does not exclude even the freshest product even if it is not contaminated. Packaging should be checked for small holes indicating there may be infestations. If there is evidence of insect infestation, the product may not be purchased. Stores should be notified immediately, as further infestations should be prevented. Most stores have action plans for insect infestations. Bringing infested products into a pantry or home leads to a greater infestation rate. At home, putting cereal or grain type goods in a protective container will also help prevent the infestation or spread of insects from one product to another. Insects can chew thin plastic, foil, cardboard and other packaging used for resale products; transferring purchased products into tightly sealed glass containers or heavy plastic containers can improve sanitation and prevent infestations. Use the oldest product first and buy smaller amounts of grains and cereals that can be used quickly, depending on size or family intake, reducing the likelihood of infestation. But the fruit fly presents a completely different approach to prevention. The main method for controlling and removing fruit flies is to eradicate the attraction resources. The mature product should be eaten, discarded, or cooled. Any broken or cracked fruit or vegetables should be pruned, and the damaged pieces are removed if there are any larvae or eggs in the area. Careful attention should be given to potential nurseries that, when forgotten, can cause major infestations - all recyclables and composting bins must be cleaned, and areas should be inspected for rotting fruit. Due to its small size, fruit flies are able to breed inside the lid of the container. Therefore, when personally sawing fruits or vegetables, beer, cider, or wine, the container should be well sealed. Adult moths can lay their eggs under bottle caps, allowing larvae to crawl to food sources when they hatch. Homeowners should also equip their doors and windows with a tight mesh screen to prevent the adult fruit from flying outside. Prevention and sanitation methods are key to avoiding infestation or contamination of foodstuffs.
Eradication
Although not seen when groceries are purchased, some products are likely to be met before they are placed in the pantry. Periodic examination of susceptible food is needed, especially in summer when most insects are more active. If infestation occurs, steps should be taken to eradicate the insects. Controlling infestations is a long process and insects may still be visible, albeit in reduced amounts, over several weeks. All infested items, as well as uninfested items, must be removed from the shelves, thoroughly cleaned and emptied. After vacuuming, waste containing infested material should be discarded and disposed of. Goods should be checked for beetles, larvae, and pupae; all foods should be checked, as well, and special attention should be given to items that are rarely used. Infected items can be thrown, heated, or frozen to kill insects. If the food is selected for disposal, the item must be completely removed from its vicinity to prevent reinfestation. Freeze the product for three to four days or heat it up to about 130 to 140 Â ° F for 30 to 40 minutes will eliminate pest products. Decorative ornaments and objects made with plant and seed materials around stored products will increase the risk of reinfestation; insects can eat these items until they find the stored product. These items must also be discarded or disinfected with freezing or heating. Cleaning the area where the infected product is found is also recommended. Cleaning with bleach or ammonia, however, will not help with pest control. Using a vacuum cleaner to thoroughly clean the area, especially in the gap and corner where the insects might be hiding, will reduce the likelihood of re-infection. Because food will be stored in the area again, pesticides are not a good method of eradication. Pesticides can leave residues that can contaminate food products stored nearby. Also, once the pest is in the container, the pesticide has no effect. If the louse is so severe that pesticides are the only way to solve the problem, a professional should be contacted immediately. Do not try to apply pesticides to any area where food is stored for human or animal consumption. Contamination can occur and cause more severe disease or condition. Proper storage and hygiene are the only ways to prevent infestation. Sanitation is the key to prevention and eradication of pests.
Conclusion
If these insects are found to be rampant of stored products, it is impractical to automatically assume the store or manufacturer is wrong. Although some infestations are not consumer fault, manufacturers are held by the extent of the FDA's action damage to ensure their products do not contain more than the amount given by insects, insect fragments, or larvae. If a stored product is found to be infested by an insect, and it is suspected that someone other than the consumer is wrong, forensic entomologists can be contacted to make a determination. Again, it should not be assumed that these are the five insects found in ordinary household pantry, but because of the many infestations by these five major groups, it can safely be concluded that it is probably one of these five. The stored entomology product is an important forensic field that is important for not only the government and the FDA but the general public, as it is involved in the consumption of food in everyday life.
Other stored product pests:
- Flour mite Acarus siro
- Home cricket Acheta domesticus
- General furniture beetle Anobium punctatum
- Carpet beetles vary Anthrenus verbasci
- Fur beetle or carpet beetle Attagenus pellio
- Black carpet beetle Attagenus unicolor
- Black larder beetle Pedestrian ater
- the Larder beetle Dermestes lardarius
- Hide the beetle Dermestes maculatus
- Moth brown Ephestia elutella
- Moth flour Ephestia kuehniella
- Cigarette beetle Lasioderma serricorne
- Shark Lepisma saccharina
- Spider beetle Mezium americanum
- Red-legged ham beetle Necrobia rufipes
- The golden spider beast Niptus hololeucus
- Yellow Moth Oinophila v-flavum
- Beetroot seed trader Oryzaephilus mercator
- indian food louse Plodia interpunctella
- Australian spider beetle Ptinus tectus
- eating moth Pyralis farinalis
- Smaller grain borer Rhyzopertha dominica
- Rice buni Sitophilus oryzae
- Corn beetle Sitophilus zeamais
- Angoumois grain moth Sitotroga cerealella
- Beetle drugstore Stegobium paniceum
- Yellow mealworm Tenebrio molitor
- the Cadelle beetle Tenebroides mauritanicus
- Red flour beetle Tribolium castaneum
- The confusing flour beetle Tribolium confusum
- Destructive flour beetle Tribolium destroyer
- Moth carpet or moth tread Trichophaga tapetzella
- Khapra beetle Trogoderma granarium
- Moth clothing - some species
See also
- List of common household pests
- Food Disability Action Level
References
Further reading
- Robinson, W. H. (2008). Urban Insects and Arachnids A Handbook on Urban Entomology . Cambridge University Press. ISBNÃ, 978-0-521-81253-5, ISBNÃ, 0-521-81253-4. Also available in e-book format.
External links
- Indian moth, interpunctella Plodia on the University of Florida/IFAS Feature Creatures website
- red and confused flour beetle, Tribolium spp. on the UF/IFAS Feature Creatures website
- saved product pests, Oryzaephilus acuminatus on the UF/IFAS Feature Creatures website
- FAO Fish insect pests are preserved
- PADIL Old downloads.
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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