The infestibility of stored paddy bySitophilus sasakii(Tak.) andRhyzopertha dominica(F.).

Abstract

Indications of the type of paddy grain most commonly infested by Sitophilus sasakii (Tak.) and Rhyzopertha dominica (F.) have been obtained from the examination of infested samples of paddy grown in Trinidad, W.I., and in British Guiana.Small-scale experiments with sound mature paddy have shown that S.sasakii is unable to feed and breed in a grain with an intact husk, even when the moisture content is high. It is also probable that R. dominica finds it extremely difficult to attack and infest such grains.The rapid multiplication of S. sasakii in paddy is dependent on there being a high proportion of grains with badly damaged husks. Infestation can occur in grains with a slight separation of the lemma and palea, or with slightly split husks, but the adult that develops is often unable to emerge from such grains.