World Grain - January 2019 - 80

FEATURE

WIN

THE BATTLE AGAINST
STORED PRODUCT PESTS
Creating customized IPM will help protect bottom line
by Chelle Hartzer

have a better chance of catching these pests before they
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BIOLOGY OF STORED PRODUCT PESTS
When the term "stored product insects" is used, it refers to a variety of different insects capable of reproducing in foods. These pests are usually tiny and tough
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without the help of a trained professional.
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product pests are going to set up shop and start reproducing immediately. Now, your goods are contaminated.
Then, these pests will start moving from bin to bin, silo to
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Typically, these stored product pests are categorized as
internal or external developers, depending on whether the
immature stages develop inside grain kernels, or outside.
,IFRQWDPLQDWLRQZRUVHQVDQGPROGRUIXQJDOJURZWKEHgins in or around product, secondary feeders will be attracted and can worsen the already-present problem. Each
group of stored product pests has its own characteristics
and distinct preferences within the category, so here are a
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remains. They even pupate inside the kernel. Once they
January 2019 / World Grain / www.World-Grain.com

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tored product pests in your food processing facility are more than a nuisance - they can compromise your food products and put a dent in your
bottom line.
A study conducted by CEBR found that disruptions
due to pest infestations in the global food supply resulted in $9.6 billion in operating costs in the countries
surveyed. And 84% of U.S. companies reported a net
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year period. Twenty-eight percent of food manufacturers and processors surveyed indicated that they experienced pest-related costs associated with contamination
of raw materials leading to replacement costs.
To make matters worse, without the help of a trained
pest management professional these pests can be tough
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the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the University
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can damage, contaminate, or consume as much as 10%
of the total food produced; in developing countries,
that rate has been estimated at 50% or more."
Having stored product pests in your food processing
facility can be quite costly. The best way to prevent
them is by continually reviewing and improving your
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it with your pest management professional at least
yearly. Ensure regular inspections of the facility and
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World Grain - January 2019

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