Unveiling the hidden threat: Lasioderma serricorne infestation in Vermicelli and parasitic behaviour of Anisopteromalus calandrae

Abstract

Abstract Grain kept in storage suffers significant financial losses due to the cigarette beetle (Lasioderma serricorne Fab). In addition, cigarette beetle has a tendency to ruin far more food than they really eat. An empirical experiment was carried out to ascertain the level of insect infestation in the vermicelli at Anand, Gujarat, India. Also, per cent weight loss of vermicelli due to infestation of L. serricorne and apparent parasitism of Anisopteromalus calandrae on grub of L. serricorne were calculated. The identified insect was L. serricorne, also known as the cigarette beetle, which harbours vermicelli. The percentage of weight that was loss as a result of its infestation ranged from 18.00 to 68.00 per cent. Notably, grub of L. serricorne was also parasitized by A. calandrae and the apparent parasitism ranged from 48.00 to 85.00 percent. It was first report of Lasioderma serricorne an infestation in vermicelli from India.