GEAPS 525: Management of Insect Pests in Stored Grain

Next course offering: March 19 - April 20, 2012
Registration opens: Feb. 10, 2012

Registration is now closed.

Course Focus: The course focuses on insect pests associated with stored grain, and provides fundamental knowledge required to manage insect infestations using practical nonchemical and chemical methods.

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.

Target Audience: Grain-facility superintendents and managers; grain-industry professionals with responsibilities relating to grain-quality management, pest management, fumigation and protectants; students; and others with a professional interest in managing insect pests in grain.

Instructor: Dr. Bhadriraju Subramanyam, Prof., Kansas State University Department of Grain Science and Industry
Teaching Assistants: Chelle Hartzer, Department of Grain Science and Industry, Kansas State University; Brandi Miller, Distance Education Manager, Department of Grain Science and Industry, Kansas State University

The Course of Study

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. Topics include:

• 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: Primary Feeders
This lecture describes and illustrates the primary insect species associated with stored grain, including their identification, biology, ecology, behavior, and damage. Topics include:

• 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
This lecture describes and illustrates the secondary insect species associated with stored grain, including their identification, biology, ecology, behavior, and damage. Topics include:

• 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 and Relative 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. Topics include:

• 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
• Utilizing absolute sampling information for pest-management decision-making

Lecture 5 — Pest Management Basics and Concepts
This lecture provides basic knowledge on pest management and outlines various methods used for managing insects in stored grain. Topics include:

• Definition of a pest
• Difference between control and management
• Pest-management concepts
• Preventive versus 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 6 — Preventive and Responsive Tactics for Managing Stored Grain Insects
This lecture provides information on practical preventive tactics to minimize insect infestation in stored grain. Topics include:

• List of preventive and responsive tactics
• Recommended preventive and responsive tactics for empty structures and grain
• Description of each preventive and responsive tactic
• Effectiveness and limitations of both tactics
• Utilizing preventive and responsive tactics
• Data gaps

Lecture 7 — 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. Topics include:

• 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
• Grain protectants and food safety (residues)

Lecture 8 — Proper Use of Grain Fumigants
This lecture provides information on fumigants and the practice of fumigating stored grain for managing insect infestations. Topics include:

• What is a fumigant?
• Attributes of an effective fumigant
• Types of fumigants available for use on grain (old vs. new)
• Scenarios where fumigation can be used (bulk, bagged, cargoes, railcars, etc.)
• Conditions affecting fumigation (sealing, weather, sorption/desorption, etc.)
• Insect resistance to fumigants

Lecture 9 — Fumigation Safety Considerations
This lecture provides information on using fumigants in a responsible manner for applicator safety and for maximum efficacy against insect pests. Topics include:

• Why safety is important when using fumigants
• Fumigation labels and safety labeling
• Applicator safety vs. bystander 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 versus safe fumigation practices

Lecture 10 — 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. Topics include:

• 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

Assignment: The instructor will provide information about several commodities that are newly harvested and stored for a time period on the farm and then is moved through the elevator system to a grain processor. The grain is transported via a railcar to the processor and the processor stores the commodity for a certain length of time before processing it. Given this hypothetical scenario with some assumed problems with insects, the students should develop a pest- management plan that includes identification of insects, sampling information, and intended use of chemical or nonchemical as the grain moves from the farm to the processor.