Stored-product insects in botanical warehouses

Insect pests infesting six stored botanicals were sampled monthly in two Egyptian warehouses over 12 months. The plants sampled were; roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa), mogat (Glossostemon bruguieri), coriander (Coriandrum sativum), anise (Pimpinella anisum), chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla) and marjoram (Origanum majorana). The warehouses were located in northern Egypt in Mansoura and Bilqas. Lasioderma serricorne and Stegobium paniceum were the most common insect pests in warehouses. The beetles Tribolium castaneum, Tribolium confusum, Trogoderma granarium and Cryptolestes ferrugineus had lower and similar levels of infestation. The moths, Plodia interpunctella and Sitotroga cerealella, had the lowest infestation levels. There were small differences in infestation by the most common insects, L. serricorne and S. paniceum, among the six botanicals. In general, M. chamomilla and O. majorana had the lowest level of infestation. The other plants, H. sabdariffa and C. sativum had higher levels of infestation. The warehouse in Bilqas had higher populations than the warehouse in Mansoura. In Bilqas, the temperature and relative humidity were slightly higher and the warehouse was older and had open windows, factors that may have contributed to higher insect infestations.