Diversity of Insect Pests from District Kolhapur, Maharashtra, India, with Special Reference to Stored Cereal Grains with New Records

Dhanashree Ramchandra Salunkhe and Sunil Madhukar Gaikwad^*

Department of Zoology, Shivaji University, Kolhapur, India.

Corresponding Author E-mail:smg­­_zoo@unishivaji.ac.in

DOI : http://dx.doi.org/10.12944/CARJ.13.3.7

Article Publishing History

Received: 21 Aug 2025
Accepted: 01 Jan 2026
Published Online: 07 Jan 2026

Review Details

Reviewed by: Dr. Vikram Agone
Second Review by: Dr. Mustafa Ahmed Jalal
Final Approval by: Dr. Ravi Pandiselvam

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Abstract:

One of the biggest challenges to stored grain is insect infestation. Coleoptera, Lepidoptera, and Psocoptera are the predominant  stored grain  pests in Kolhapur district. A survey of  stored grain  pests was performed across various localities in the study area, where insects  were collected and identified to evaluate  the diversity of species associated with stored cereals. In total, 20 insect species were documented as  damaging cereal grains in storage, of which three are newly recorded in India, seven are new to Maharashtra, and one species was identified only to the genus level. Sitophilus oryzae and Sitotroga cerealella are the principal  pests of rice, while Tribolium castaneum and Rhyzopertha dominica are  the key secondary pests. This study outlines  the significance and diversity of stored grain pests in  Kolhapur district. Identifying pest diversity is crucial for developing effective control strategies .

Keywords:

Cereals; Diversity; Kolhapur; Sitophilus; Stored grains

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