![]() Almost 8–10%, i.e., 13 million tons of grains lost due to insects and 100 million tons due to failure to store properly is estimated in stored food products all around the world. ![]() Stored grain pests cause serious post-harvest losses, almost 9% in developed countries to almost 20% or more in developing countries, besides they also cause contamination of food products by the presence of various live insects, insect products like chemical excretions or silk, dead insects or some other storage structures. Stored grain pests possess a serious threat to dried, stored, durable and, perishable agricultural products and non-food derivatives of agricultural products worldwide. The majority of stored grain pests belong to two orders, i.e., Coleoptera and Lepidoptera. Almost one thousand species are stored grain pests of different stored products all around the world. The dispersal and distribution of stored grain pests are caused by the movement of grains from one area to another area either by a passive or active flight of pests as some adult insects possess strong flight. Old bags, storage structures, old containers are the major source of infestation. Some pests start damaging the seeds at the ripening stage and continue during storage. At various processing stages of grains, i.e., during the process of development and maturation of seeds, processing in threshing yards, during transmission of seeds, or storage large number of insect pests gain access to stored grains. ![]() The main reason behind the occurrence of stored grain pests is the presence of favorable climates for their growth and survival. These pests cause damage to stored grains resulting in both qualitative and quantitative losses. Stored grains are heavily damaged by insect pests. ![]()
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