Host preference dynamics of rice weevil (Sitophilus oryzae L.) in stored cereals
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.26832/24566632.2026.110103Keywords:
Grain damage, Free choice, No choice, Sitophilus oryzae, Storage pestAbstract
The study aimed to evaluate the host preference of rice weevil (Sitophilus oryzae L.) among six different cereals viz., rice, maize, wheat, barley, sorghum, and oats and assess their resistance to infestation. The experiment was conducted at the Entomology laboratory of Rampur Campus, Chitwan, from May to August 2025 under both free-choice and no-choice conditions using completely randomized design (CRD) with four replications. Each treatment consists of one hundred grains with fifteen pairs of newly emerged rice weevils from the stock culture, introduced under no-choice conditions and fifty pairs per replication under free-choice conditions. The assessed parameters were grain damage percentage, weight loss percentage, and germination percentage before and after the treatment. Under free-choice conditions, wheat recorded the highest grain damage (28.25%) and weight loss (20.01%), whereas oats showed the lowest damage (3.25%) and weight loss (1.52%); greatest reduction in germination was also in wheat (20%) and the smallest in oats (3%). Under no-choice conditions, wheat again had the highest grain damage (14.50%) and weight loss (17.44%), both significantly greater at the 0.1% level, while oats had the lowest damage (4.75%) and weight loss (2.21%); correspondingly, the highest reduction in germination occurred in wheat (18%) and the lowest in oats (3%). This study suggests that wheat is a highly preferred host, while oats exhibit higher resistance against rice weevils. It also suggests that integrating resistant grains and targeted pest management strategies can reduce post-harvest loss.
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