GEAPS 525: Management of Insect Pests in Stored Grain
This course, originally scheduled to run March 8-April 16, 2010, has been cancelled. The course may be rescheduled for a future term.
Course description: This 6-week professional development course focuses on insect pests associated with stored grain, and provides fundamental knowledge required to manage insect infestations using practical non-chemical and chemical methods.
Prerequisites: None
Course Goals: The goals of GEAPS 525 are to enhance the basic knowledge and skills of all those involved in handling and storing grain to make timely pest management decisions while protecting the quality of stored grain and the environment.
Lead Instructor: Dr. Bhadriraju Subramanyam, Kansas State University
Course Requirements: The lectures for this course module are available as narrated 2007 PowerPoint presentations that off-campus students receive on CDs for self-study. Student quizzes, assignments, reading materials and discussion groups are available at the GEAPS 525 Blackboard course site.
Syllabus:
Lecture 1 - Overview of Grain Storage Structures
This lecture describes and illustrates the diverse types of grain storage structures, both traditional and modern, and issues related to insect infestation.
- Reasons for storing grain
- Types of structures used for storing grain
- Advantages and limitations of the storage structures
- Losses due to insects in stored grain
- Loss assessment methods
- Why prevention of losses in grain is important
Lecture 2 - Economically Important Insects Associated with Stored Grain
This lecture describes and illustrates the primary insect species associated with stored grain, including their identification, biology, ecology, behavior, and damage.
- Classification of insects as primary and secondary feeders
- Species of insects classified as primary and secondary feeders
- Natural habitats of stored-product insects
- Species-by-species description, including identification, biology, ecology, behavior and damage
Lecture 3 - Economically Important Insects Associated with Stored Grain: Secondary Feeders
The lecture describes and illustrates the secondary insect species associated with stored grain, including their identification, biology, ecology, behavior, and damage.
- Feeding preferences of secondary insect species
- Species-by-species description covering identification, biology, ecology, behavior and damage.
Lecture 4 - Devices for Sampling Insects in Stored Grain: Absolute Methods
This lecture provides information on why sampling insects in stored grain is important, and outlines absolute and relative methods for sampling grain insects and the value of sampling information for pest management decision making.
- Goals and objectives of sampling insects in grain
- Methods for sampling insects: absolute vs. relative methods
- Advantages and limitations of absolute and relative methods
- Types of sampling information for insect detection and estimation
- Devices used for absolute estimates
Lecture 5 - Devices for Sampling Insects in Stored Grain: Relative Methods
This lecture provides information on devices used for sampling insects in grain that provide a relative estimate. The practical value of relative estimates is described with reference to monitoring populations of insects in grain.
- Devices used for sampling insects in grain and grain storage
- Structures that provide relative estimates
- Value of relative estimates about insect numbers in grain
- Relationship between relatives and absolute estimates
- Utilizing relative sampling information for pest management decision making
Lecture 6 - Pest Management Basics and Concepts
This lecture provides basic knowledge on pest management and outlines various methods used for managing insects in stored grain.
- Definition of a pest
- Difference between control and management
- Pest management concepts
- Preventative vs. responsive tactics
- Practical pest management methods for stored grain insects
- Pest management perceptions of stored grain managers
- Information sources on stored grain pest management practices
Lecture 7 - Preventive Tactics for Managing Stored Grain Insects
This lecture provides information on practical preventive tactics to minimize insect infestation in stored grain.
- List of preventive tactics
- Recommended preventive tactics for empty structures and grain
- Description of each preventive tactic
- Effectiveness and limitations of preventive tactics
- Utilizing preventive tactics
- Data gaps
Lecture 8 - Responsive Tactics for Managing Stored Grain Insects
This lecture provides information on practical responsive tactics to minimize insect infestation in stored grain.
- List of responsive tactics
- Recommended responsive tactics for structures and grain
- Locations in the grain marketing system where responsive tactics are used
- Effectiveness and limitations of responsive tactics
- Utilizing responsive tactics
- Data gaps
Lecture 9 - Proper Use of Grain Protectants
This lecture provides information on the practice of admixing various traditional and newer materials with stored grain to prevent insect infestations.
- Why admix materials with grain to prevent insect infestations
- Definition of a grain protectant
- Attributes of an effective grain protectant
- List of traditionally used and current grain protectants
- Formulations of grain protectants
- Grain protectant application issues (labeling)
- Issues with insect resistance to protectants
Lecture 10 - Proper Use of Grain Fumigants
This lecture provides information on fumigants and the practice of fumigating stored grain for managing insect infestations.
- What is a fumigant?
- Attributes of an effective fumigant
- Types of fumigants available for use on grain (old vs. new)
- Scenarios in which fumigation can be used (bulk, bagged, cargoes, railcars, etc.)
- Conditions affecting fumigation (sealing, weather, sorption/desorption, etc.)
- Insect resistance to fumigants
- Fumigation safety considerations (more in lesson 11)
Lecture 11 - Fumigation Safety Considerations
This lecture provides information on using fumigants in a goals-responsible manner for applicator safety and for maximum efficacy against insect pests.
- Why safety is important when using fumigants
- Fumigation labels and safety labeling
- Applicator safety vs. by-stander safety
- Personal protective equipment (PPE) and their care
- Types of devices for monitoring grain fumigants
- Proper use of PPEs relative to gas readings
- List of unsafe vs. safe fumigation practices
Lecture 12 - Integrated Management of Stored Grain Insects
This lecture is designed to stimulate thinking of the course students to integrate information from readings and PowerPoint presentations to develop a hypothetical pest management plan to manage insects in stored grain.
- Definition of a pest management plan
- Definition of an integrated pest management plan
- Issues to consider when developing a pest management plan
- Evaluating a pest management plan
Additional Information
This non-credit professional development course is taught as an intensive 6-week module utilizing distance education technologies that require the following commitments from students:
1. Each week the course material will be covered in two 1-hour long lectures. For each hour of lecture, the students are required to spend at least 2-3 hours studying reading materials provided in addition to working through the study questions and quizzes that accompany each lecture.
2. Lectures can be viewed and reviewed at one’s own convenience, and this course provides flexibility to take online quizzes. Weekly assignments help keep students motivated and also encourage interaction with the course instructor and fellow students. It is important to complete the module within the 6-week allotted timeframe. Self-discipline is necessary to keep abreast of the lectures and complete assigned tasks on time.
3. This course requires a Windows computer with the basic requirements: a Pentium II processor running Windows98 or higher, a CD drive to play CDs, and access the course site on the Internet.
4. The lecture files are saved in a media file format. When you insert the CD, a window will open allowing you to choose from the lectures recorded on that CD. Accessing the online quizzes and additional course materials requires a Web browser such as Firefox or Microsoft Internet Explorer.