Mitt. Mus. Nat.kd. Berl.. Dtsch. entomol. Z. 50 (2003) 2. 255-257 05. 12.2003

Lasioderma serricorne (Coleoptera, Anobiidae), Number of generations and pheno- logy, in tobacco stores of Northern Greece (Macedonia)

Sm. Ch. Papadopoulou l,* & C. Th. Buchelos2

With 2 figures and 1 table

Abstract

Observation and study of Lasioderrna serricorne (Coleoptera: Anobiidae) number of generations has taken place in the re- gion of Thessaloniki (Macedonia - Greece) during the years 1966, 1997, 1998 and 1999. For every year of the experiment, four (4) insect cages (29 x 29 x 31 cm) placed inside the tobacco stores were used. Every cage containing Virginia-type dry tobacco leaves, treated by redrying method, was supplied with overwintering larvae, eggs as well as male and female pupae to avoid overlapping of generations. It was concluded that three (3) generations per year exist (April-May, June-July, August- September).

Key words: Lasioderma serricorne, cigarette beetle, generations, tobacco stores.

Introduction

Lasioderma serricorne (F.) (Coleoptera : Anobii- dae) is a cosmopolitan insect infesting and caus- ing considerable damage to a large number of stored products. It is usually present at all times in some stages in tobacco storage warehouses. (Powell 1931, Stamatinis 1935, USDA 1972, Le- vinson & Buchelos 1988, Ryan 1995). Alfieri (1931) reports that it was found in dried resin in Toutankhamon tomb (1332-1322 b.C.) and Stef- fan (1982) in the filling of Ramses mummy (1279-1213 b.C.). It seems that L. serricorne was known in Egypt 3500 years ago introduced to the New Word later.

Research studies concerning the insect’s num- ber of generations conducted in countries with various climatological conditions, give different numbers per year, depending on conditions and the food available (Ashworth 1993, Lepesme 1944, Howe 1957, Edwards et al. 1980).

The L. serricorne number of generatiodyear was studied from 1994 up and including 1999, in tobacco stores of the region of Thessaloniki. Spe- cial attention was given to the time on which the adults of the generation I appear, using a meth-

od excluding any false results arising from the existing overlapping of generations.

Defining the above biological parameters is extremely important for the insect’s control of the generation I adults, which determine the po- pulation densities of generations to come.

Materials and methods

Surveillance over the number of L. serricorne generations took place during 4 successive years (1996-1999). A tobacco store, belonging to Great S. A. Tobacco Company (former Gretoba Co.) 99,6 x 44,4 x 4,s m (total volume 21322 m3) with walls -2Ocm wide, was used. The dried tobacco used (Virginia and Burley type) was treated with “redrying”; ac- cording to this procedure, the tobacco leaves are submitted to high temperatures in order to kill every biological stage of the insect. However, to check the effectiveness of the treat- ment, tobacco samples were taken at several times during the year and kept in a laboratory chamber at 30 “C, 65% Rh and dark.

Temperatures and relative humidities recorded inside the tobacco stores are given in diagrams 1 & 2.

Four (4) entomological cages (29 x 29 x 31 cm), with to- bacco and insects, placed inside the tobacco stores were used every year of the experiment as follows:

- In cage 1,250 interwintering larvae were placed on : March 14-1996, March 6-1997, March 5-1998 and March 13-1999. - In cage 2, 250 eggs were placed on : May 30-1996, May

27-1997, May 8-1998 and May 10-1999.

Technological Educational Institute of Thessaloniki, School of Agricultural Technology, Laboratory of Entomology,

Agricultural University of Athens, Laboratory of Agricultural Zoology and Entomology, 11855 Athens Greece. Gr-54101. E-mail : papsm@cp.teithe.gr

E-mail: ceaz2buc@aua.gr

Received December 2002, accepted June 2003 * Author to whom all correspondence should be addressed.

0 2003 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmhH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim

256 Papadopoulou, Sm., Ch & C. Th. Buchelos, Lasioderma serricorne of Nothern Greece

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- In cage 3, 250 pupae (125 female and 125 male) were placed on : September 2-1996, September 1-1997, August 17- 1998 and August 19-1999.

- In cage 4, 300 larvae were placed on: September 23- 1996, September 22-1997, October 10-1998 and September 9- 1999.

During the whole experimental period, observations were taken place every three (3) days but in order to have more specific information on the appearance of the first generati- on, in the case of the overwintering larvae (cage l), observa- tions were more dence near the end of the pupation period.

Concerning the 300 larvae placed in cage 4, aiming to check the insect’s developmental course, observations took place every 10 days on October, November, January and Fe- bruary in 1996 & 1997 and every 20 days in 1988 & 1999.

Results and discussion

In the samples of tobacco leaves placed in the controlled condition chamber after the applica- tion of the “redrying method”, procedure, neither appearance or development of any in- sect’s stage was observed.

The data of observation concerning the num- ber of generationdyear of L. serricorne from 1996 to and including 1999 are given in Table 1.

Based on the results given in the above Table, is concluded that the insects’ number of genera- tions in the

8o 1 7 0 4

region of Thessaloniki, are three, as

J

Fig. 1. Mean temperatures (“C) per month (January to June) recorded inside the tobac- co store in the region of Thessaloniki during 1996 to 1999.

no adult of the supposed generation IV was found in any experimental year.

In 1996 and 1997, generation I appeared in May, generation I1 in July and generation I11 in September. In 1998 & 1999 the adults of all three generations appeared earlier as compared to 1996 & 1997, that is in April, June and end of August correspondingly. This means that tem- peratures and relative humidities were more fa- vorable for the insect’s development than those of the precenting years, as shown in fig. 2 & 3. This observation agrees with Edwards et all. (1980), reporting that the insect’s life cycle as well as the number of generations depend on temperature, relative humidity and the food available.

Table 1. Dates of L. serricorne adults appearance, for every generation in the years 1996,1997, 1998 and 1999.

Year Number of generation and dates of the adults’ ap- pearence on tobacco leaves inside the cages

I I1 111 IV generation generation generation generation

1996 1415 1997 1215 1998 2314 1999 2614

), -1999 30 i’ I I I I I I

1817 919 No adults 1417 419 found 2916 2418 2816 2618

Fig. 2. Mean relative humidities (%) per month (January to June) recorded inside the tobacco store in the region of Thessaloniki during 1996 to 1999.

J F M A M J

Mitt. Mus. Nat.kd. Berl., Dtsch. entomol. Z. 50 (2003) 2 257

The above results agree also with Stamatinis (1935), in the number of generations and the time of their appearance during the first two years of this experiment (May 14 and May 15). A differentiation is observed in 1998 & 1999 when mean temperatures were higher, resulting more rapid insect development and appearance of the first adults of generation I correspond- ingly in April 23 & 26 of the above years.

The procedure followed - displacing the dif- ferent insect stages from cage to cage during the experimental period - aimed to avoid any possi- ble confusion caused by the presence, in the same cage of adults, as overlapping of genera- tions was a fact due to the longevity of L. serri- corm adults; Canzanelli (1935) states that the in- sect's adults can live 20 to 45 and Howe (1957) 14 to 49 days.

The aforementioned procedure is reinforced by the observation that the period of time the adults appear, varies in a number of days.

References

Alfieri, A., 1931. Les insectes de la tombe de Touthankha- mon. - Bulletin Society Reaserch Entomology Egypte 15:

Ashworth, J. R. 1993. The biology of Lasioderma serricorne. 188-189.

Journal of Stored Products Research 29: 291-303.

Canzanelli, A. 1935. Contributo alla embriologia e biologia del tarlo del tabacco Lasioderma serricorne (E). - Bulle- tin of Laboratory Zoology Portici 27 1-56.

Edwards, S. R., B. M. Bell & E. M. King 1980. Pest control in museums, a status report. - The Association of Syste- matics Collection, U.S.A.

Howe, R. W. 1957. A laboratory study of the cigarette be- etle, Lasioderma serricorne (F.) (Col., Anobiidae) with a critical review of the literature on its biology. - Bulletin of Entomological Research 48: 9-56.

Lepesme, R. 1944. Les colkopthres des dernkes alimentaires et des produits industriels entreposks. Paul Lechevalier Paris pp. 335.

Levinson, A. R. & C. Th. Buchelos 1988. Population dyna- mics of Lasioderma serricorne (F.) (Coleoptera Anobii- dae) in tobacco stores with and without insecticidal treat- ments a three-year survey by pheromone and unbaited traps. - Journal of Applied Entomology 106: 201-211.

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Ryan, L. 1995. Post-harvest tobacco infestation control. Chapman., Hall, London pp. 145.

Stamatinis, N.C. 1935. The enemies of tobacco in warehouses, Ephestia elutella Hb. and Lasioderma serricorne Fab. The biology and measures for their control. (In Greece with English summary) Commun Tobacco Institute Greece, no 4, 65 pp.

Steffan, J. R. 1982. L'entomofaune de la momie de Ramese 11. - Annales de la Societe Entomologique de France 18:

U.S.D.A. 1972. Stored Tobacco Insects - Biology and Cont- rol. United States Deptartment of Agriculture Handbook no 233.

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