Pests affecting grains during storage and their prevention

The most important task after harvesting is storing the crop. Farmers can conserve the crop by using scientific methods. The main cause of pests in most crops is moisture. The main pests in grain storage are of the order Lepidoptera and Coleoptera. 

1 Sursuri 

This insect is brownish black in color. Its head is tilted forward. The length of the Sursuri insect is 2 - 4 mm. Light spots are formed on the wings of sursuri. 

Storage of grains is harmed by both the bud and the sundae. This caterpillar normally makes the grain hollow by eating it from inside. 

2 Khapra Beetle 

This prodigious insect is grayish brown in color. The body of this insect is oval, the head is short and compressed. This sundi is full of fine weeping. 

The length of the insect is 2 - 2.5 mm. This pest can be easily identified in the crop. The fury of sundi is mostly seen on the brow of the grain. 

Also read this: Protect wheat and barley crops from chepa (Al) pest

3 Grain borer

This insect, a small feeder of grains, eats the grain and makes it hollow from inside. The length of this insect is 3 mm, and this insect is dark brown in appearance. Both plants and insects harm the crop, this insect is also capable of flying. 

This insect turns the grain into flour by making it hollow from inside. This is a storehouse. 

4 Grain moth 

This insect is 5 - 7 mm long. This insect lives in golden brown flying moths. The last tip of this insect is pointed and hairy. 

The forewings are pale yellow and the hindwings are brown. This insect eats the grain by making a hole inside the grain, and after developing it comes out in the form of bud. 

5 Flour red beetle

 This insect is mostly a pest of cereals, flour and processed grains. This insect is reddish brown in color and it is about 3 mm long. These insects are very fast at walking and flying. 

The thorax, head and abdomen of this insect are conspicuous. Its antennae are bent and three segments above the antennae together form a thickened portion. 

Also read this: Protect your crops from these diseases

6 Legume beetle

The body of the legume beetle is brown in color. It is about 3.2 mm long. The body of the insect is broad at the front and narrow at the back. This insect makes holes in the grains of grains and eats them. 

7 Grain beetle with sharp zig zag teeth

This insect is about 1/8 inch long. This insect has 6 saw-like teeth on both sides of the trunk. This disease is easily identifiable. They are dark brown insects. 

Prior arrangements to stop pest attack

1. Before storing grains in the godowns, the godowns should be cleaned properly. 
2. The grains to be stored should be properly dried in the sun, remember that there is no moisture in the grains. 
3. Before storing the grain, check the moisture content of the grain. 
4. Pay special attention to the cleanliness of grain carrying vehicles. 
5. Do not use old sacks while storing grains, use new sacks in their place. Or soak old gunny bags for half an hour by mixing 0.01 to 25 Cypermethrin 25 EC in water. After drying the sacks in the shade then store the crop in it. 
6. Do not keep the sacks full of grains directly on the ground. Always hang the curtains on the wall.
7. In order to make the grain pest free in the godowns spray by mixing 0.5 to 50 ml of malathion in water. Powder of camphor, mustard oil and neem leaves can also be used to preserve stored grains. 

Also read: How to plant and care for wheat? 

Solutions after the pest attack

Check the pest attack in the crop at the interval of 15 - 20 days in the days of more moisture. Or you can also remove moisture from the grain by showing it sun from time to time. 

Pour a tablet of aluminum phosphide into a ton of cereals and ventilate for a couple of days. Be careful, use this pill in airtight reservoirs.

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