Risk warning to farmers of Larger Grain Borer infestation and reduced pesticide treatment in maize stores. Final Technical Report

Abstract

This report describes the outputs of a project designed to research a package of measures to be implemented in support of improved pest management against the Larger Grain Borer (Prostephanus truncatus). Important advances have been made in the development of a risk assessment system that will enable the extension services to notify farmers when their stored produce is at risk. A system based on the numbers of beetles captured in pheromone traps is being proposed for further development and validation. Ancillary studies on the pheromone lure in the traps and on the characteristics of those beetles that come to the traps are also reported