Sarhad J. Agric. Vol.24, No.2, 2008

FOOD PREFERENCES OF SERRICORNE (F.) (COLEOPTERA: ANOBIIDAE) ON FOUR TYPES OF TOBACCO

Muhammad Saeed*, Said Mir Khan* and Muhammad Shahid**

ABSTRACT Flue-cured Virginia (FCV), Sun-cured Rustica (SCR), Dark Air-cured (DAC) and Air-cured Burley (ACB) were evaluated for preference by the 4 th instar larvae and adult stages of (Fabricius) (Coleoptera: Anobiidae). Nicotine, reducing sugars and starch contents were determined and the impact of chemical factors on preference was worked out. FCV tobacco was preferred by both larval and adult stages with 2.18 and 1.49 , respectively followed by SCR with 1.58 larvae and 1.25 adults. ACB was preferred by minimum number of larvae (0.64) and adults (0.82). Nicotine content was high (4.09%) in SCR, while low (1.42%) in DAC. Maximum reducing sugars (14.27%) and starch (6.89%) was recorded in FCV, while minimum (0.55%) reducing sugars and (1.14%) starch documented for ACB. Significant positive interaction among the larval and adult stages of L. serricorne with reducing sugars and starch revealed that FCV was highly preferred by larval and adult stages due to high contents of reducing sugars and starch, while ACB was least preferred due to low contents of reducing sugars and starch. Nicotine had non-significantly negative effect on the preference of both larvae and adults.

Key words: Lasioderma serricorne, Preference, Tobacco Types, Feeding.

INTRODUCTION Cigarette , Lasioderma serricorne (Fabricius) completes its life cycle earlier i.e., in 50 days, while (Coleoptera: Anobiidae) is a serious pest of stored in tobacco with high nicotine and very small amounts tobacco (Gopalachari, 1984), and is known to infest of total sugars and starch, the development is very and consume all stages of the product, resulting in slow and the beetle completes its life cycle in a range spoilage of at least 1% (US$300 million) of stored of 65 to 80 days. The type of tobacco also affects the tobacco stocks per annum (USDA, 1972). The pest oviposition. L. serricorne lays more eggs in flue- occurs throughout the tropical and subtropical regions cured tobacco than in other tobacco types (Joshi, of the world. Although low temperature and humidity 1968). When feeding on tobacco, L. serricorne restrict its growth, yet it occurs commonly in warm survives best on high sugar/low nicotine tobacco. It buildings throughout the temperate regions (Arbogast can survive on tobacco having up to 4% nicotine. The et al ., 2003). It breeds on a wide variety of larvae do not survive on a tobacco diet containing commodities, including both plant and 8.25% nicotine (Ryan, 1995). A successful integrated materials (LeCato, 1978; Ashworth, 1993), and is one pest management (IPM) Program cannot be of the several beetle pests that commonly infest implemented without knowing the feeding warehouses and retail stores (Arbogast et al., 2000, preferences of L. serricorne . 2002). Besides tobacco, also infests a wide range of other stored commodities such as grains, rice, beans, Therefore, the objectives of this study were to cotton seeds, dry yeast, chilli powder, ginger, determine the beetle preference and to explore its turmeric, saffron, dates, raisins, dried figs, cereals, association with the chemical profile of tobacco leather, cocoa, dried vegetables and even pyrethrum types. powder (Gopalachari, 1984; Ryan, 1995). The larvae that eat stored leaves and contaminate the MATERIALS AND METHODS product with excreta and body oils cause damage to This study was conducted in Lakson Tobacco tobacco. Infestation may occur on farm storage, Company Limited Mardan, NWFP, Pakistan during tobacco shipments, in the warehouses, factories and year 2004. The experiments were laid out in a at retail outlets (Ryan, 1995). L. serricorne attacks randomized complete block design (RCBD) with six the principal types of cigarettes, cigars, chewing and replications. snuff tobaccos. Burley tobaccos are rarely preferred (USDA, 1972). Principal cultivars of tobacco grown Four types of cured tobacco viz., Flue-cured Virginia in Pakistan are Flue-cured Virginia (FCV), Sun-cured (FCV), Sun-cured Rustica (SCR), Dark Air-cured Rustica (SCR), Dark Air-cured (DAC), and Air-cured (DAC) and Air-cured Burley (ACB) were tested for Burley (ACB). The type of tobacco influences the preference/non-preference by the 4 th instar larvae and duration of the life cycle of beetles. In Flue-cured adult stages of L. serricorne during October, 2004. tobacco with low nicotine and high sugars, the beetle Cured leaves weighing 150 g of each test plant was

* Faculty of Agriculture, Gomal University, Dera Ismail Khan, NWFP – Pakistan. ** NWFP Agricultural University Peshawar – Pakistan.

Muhammad Saeed, et al. Food preferences of Lasioderma serricorne (F.) (coleoptera: anobidae) …… 280

cleaned by conditioning (Steam) followed by Sand- 1.49 numbers, respectively. ACB was significantly reeling to remove dust. A paper sheet was spread on the least preferred type with minimum number of the floor of experimental chamber (Fig.1) measuring both larvae (0.64) and adults (0.82) of L. serricorne . 45cm x 40cm x 40cm and divided into four equal SCR and DAC were preferred by statistically similar sections with a 5 cm circle in center of the paper in number of adults i.e., 1.25 and 1.15, respectively. such a way that an equal space among host plants was These findings are in agreement with research maintained. The clean tobacco was cut into small findings of Akehurst (1981) who reported that all pieces, and 10 g of each test leaves was kept on the tobaccos could be infested, lower preference given to four sections of paper in rearing chamber. ACB and Maryland tobacco. Ryan (1995) reported Populations of L. serricorne were collected from the that females of L. serricorne lay more eggs on FCV tobacco warehouses located in Swabi area of NWFP, than other tobacco types and larvae are unable to Pakistan during May-June, 2004. The colonies were survive on tobacco diet containing high contents of reared on wheat flour: yeast extract (20:1) and nicotine (8.25%). Bharati et al. (2001) reported maintained at 28±2°C and 65-70% R.H. as outlined highest net reproductive rate (6.502) of L. serricorne by Ryan (1995). Colonies maintained by regular on FCV followed by ACB (5.396). The population transfer of emerging adults into fresh jars having took 15.63 and 22.82 days to double itself on FCV flour diet. Six female adults and larvae of L. and ACB, respectively. Rao et al. (2002) reported serricorne obtained from the insect colonies were FCV tobacco to be highly susceptible while ACB and separately placed in center of the circle in different other tobacco types were the least preferred by L. experiments with the objective to give them free serricorne . choice of selection and feeding for twelve hours. Females are attracted to tobacco (Kohno et al, 1983) Figures 2 and 3 further elaborated the association of and lay more eggs on flu-cured tobacco (Kurup, larvae and adults with reducing sugars and starch in 1961). No insecticidal measures were taken during four tobacco types. The relationship is direct the whole experimental period. curvilinear as the increase in reducing sugars and starch had encouraged the population of L. Biochemical Assays serricorne . Though nicotine content was statistically The biochemical profile of host tobacco was worked different in tobacco types (Table II) yet it had a non- out during October, 2004 in the Quality Assurance significant relationship with preference of larvae and Laboratory, Lakson Tobacco Company Limited adults (Table III). Figures 2 and 3 showed that Mardan, Pakistan. Cured leaf samples of different nicotine content had a non-significant irregular tobacco types each of 200 g weight were cleaned by relationship. Kohno et al. (1983) reported that conditioning (Steam), Sand-reeled to remove dust, attractiveness of the tobacco leaves changes with ground, passed through 1mm mesh and stored in dry change in chemical composition and concluded that polythene bags at 12 to13 % moisture content. active components for preference were volatile Reducing sugars and nicotine were determined by essential oils. Levinson & Levinson (1987) and BURKARD SCIENTIFIC SFA-2000 Method Sheet Dowd (1989) stated that L. serricorne could tolerate (CORESTA recommended Methods) while starch nicotine content to some extents. Ryan (1995) also was determined by Spectrophotometer. reported that L. serricorne survives best on high sugar/low nicotine tobacco, so Flue-cured is at most Statistical Analyses risk. Carvalho (1995) reported that larva of L. Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was performed for serricorne grew better on tobaccos with high sugar the tobacco types preferred by the larval and adult contents and its development was slower at high stages of L. serricorne using SAS inst. (1996). The nicotine contents. She observed the highest rate of impact of chemical factors on preference/non mortality on Burley (flavor) (78%) and lowest rate on preference by L. serricorne was worked out through both Virginia (filler) and Burley (filler) (44%). simple correlation. Means were separated by Least Bharati et al. (2001) concluded a combine inverse Significant Difference (LSD) Test (Steel and Torrie, effect of reducing sugars and nicotine contents of 1980). tobacco on the life parameters of L. serricorne .

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Hence, we concluded that Flue-cured Virginia was Tobacco type preference more favored by L. serricorne compared to Sun- Significant differences were observed in the rate of cured Rustica, Dark Air-cured and Air-cured Burley preference by larval and adult stages of L. serricorne tobaccos and appearing relatively more susceptible. (Table I). FCV tobacco was significantly preferred Tobacco types with high concentrations of reducing the most by both larval and adult stages with 2.18 and sugars and starch showed stronger association with Sarhad J. Agric. Vol.24, No.2, 2008 281

the larvae and adult populations of L. serricorne . Agricultural and Veterinary Entomology for his Tobacco types with high content of nicotine were suggestions, critical review, and provision of related negatively correlated with the preference by larvae research material. Thanks to Dr. Fida Muhammad & and adults of L. serricorne . Dr. Iftikhar Husain Khalil, Dept. of Plant breeding and Genetics, NWFP Agri. University, Peshawar for ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS helpful guidance during the data analysis. Many The authors express their gratitude to the owners, thanks to Maria Otilia Carvalho, Bill Lingren and Dr. managers and staff of Lakson Tobacco Company S. Ch. Papadopoulou for providing research papers, Limited for their assistance. Many thanks to Richard materials and reading the manuscript. Terry Arbogast of USDA-ARS Center for Medical,

Table I Mean comparison of the data regarding preference by 4 th instar larvae & adult stages of L. serricorne in four tobacco types offered as food. Preference (numbers) Tobacco type Larvae Adults Flue-cured Virginia 2.18a 1.49a Sun-cured Rustica 1.58b 1.25b Dark Air-cured 0.87c 1.15b Air-cured Burley 0.64d 0.82c LSD (0.05) 0.22 0.14 Means with the same letter within the column are not significantly different at 5% probability level. Chemical composition of four tobacco types in Table II indicated that FCV had high percentages of reducing sugars (14.27) and starch (6.89), while ACB had minimum reducing sugars (0.55%) and starch (1.14%) contents.

Table II Nicotine, Reducing Sugars & Starch content of four tobacco types. Tobacco Type Nicotine Reducing Sugars Starch

% Flue-cured Virginia 1.98c 14.27a 6.89a Sun-cured Rustica 4.09a 4.16b 6.56a Dark Air-cured 1.42d 0.85c 2.19b Air-cured Burley 3.25b 0.55c 1.14c LSD (0.05) 0.16 0.42 0.55 Means following by different letters within the same column are significantly different from each other at 5% probability level.

Regression analyses revealed a positive relationship of larvae and adults with reducing sugars and starch contents (Table III).

Table III Coefficients of larvae and adult stages of L. serricorne with chemical constituents of four tobacco types. Stage interaction with Nicotine Reducing Sugars Starch Larvae -0.047 ns 0.908 * 0.888 * Adult -0.277 ns 0.754 * 0.765 * ns: Non-significant * Significant at P < 0.05 (both 1% & 5% have the same results).

Muhammad Saeed, et al. Food preferences of Lasioderma serricorne (F.) (coleoptera: anobidae) …… 282

a b e c d

Fig. 1: Experimental chamber for L. serricorne (a) Flue-cured Virginia (b) Sun-cured Rustica (c) Dark Air-cured (d) Air-cured Burley (e) L. serricorne release Point

2.5 16

Larva 14

2 Nicotine % 12 RS % 10 1.5 Starch % 8 serricorne L. 1 6

4 0.5 ChemicalConstituents(%) oflarvae No. 2

0 0 ACB DAC SCR FCV Tobacco Type

Fig. 2: Relationship of larval population with nicotine, reducing sugars (RS) and starch content in Flue-cured Virginia (FCV), Sun-cured Rustica (SCR), Dark Air-cured (DAC) and Air-cured Burley (ACB) tobacco types.

Fig. 3: Relationship of adult’s population with nicotine, reducing sugars (RS) and starch content in Flue-cured Virginia (FCV), Sun-cured Rustica (SCR), Dark Air-cured (DAC) and Air-cured Burley (ACB) tobacco types.

Sarhad J. Agric. Vol.24, No.2, 2008 283

REFERENCES Akehurst, B. C., 1981. Insect pests of tobacco. Tobacco , 2 nd Kohno, M., T. Chuman, K. Kato and M. Noguchi. 1983. Edition. Longman Inc., New York. pp. 480- The olfactory response of the cigarette beetle, 520. Lasioderma serricorne Fabricius, to various host foods and cured tobacco extracts. Appl. Arbogast, R. T., P. E. Kendra and S. R. Chini. 2003. Entomol. Zool.18: 401-406. Lasioderma serricorne (Coleoptera: Anobiidae): Spatial Relationship between Trap Catch and Kurup, A.R. 1961. Preliminary studies on the nutritional Distance from an Infested Product. Florida response of the cigarette beetle ( Lasioderma Entomol. 86: 437–444. serricorne F.) to different grades of Flue-cured tobacco. Indian Tob. J . 11: 91-95. Arbogast, R. T., P. E. Kendra, R. W. Mankin and J. E. Mcgovern. 2000. Monitoring insect pests in Lecato, G. L. 1978. Infestation and development by the retail stores by trapping and spatial analysis. J. cigarette beetle in spices. J. Georgia Entomol. Econ. Entomol . 93: 1531-1542. Soc. 13: 100-105.

Arbogast, R. T., P. E. Kendra, R. W. Mankin and R. C. Levinson, H. Z. and A. Levinson. 1987. Pheromone Mcdonald. 2002. Insect infestation of a biology of the tobacco beetle, Lasioderma botanical warehouse in north-central Florida. J. serricorne F., Anobiidae with notes on the Stored. Prod. Res. 38: 349-363. pheromone antagonism between 4S, 6S, 7S- and 4S, 5S, 7R-serricornin. J. Appl. Entomol. 103: Ashworth, J. R. 1993. The biology of Lasioderma 217-240. serricorne . J. Stored. Prod. Res., 29: 291-303. Rao, C. V. N., B. N. Rao and T. R. Babu. 2002. Feeding Bharati, J. L., U. Sreedhar, B. Kishore and J. V. Prasad. response of cigarette beetle, Lasioderma 2001. Life table studies of cigarette beetle, serricorne Fabricius (Coleoptera: Anobiidae) on Lasioderma serricorne Fab. on FCV, burley and different types and varieties (grades) of tobacco. cigar wrapper tobaccos. Tobacco Res. 27: 147- J. Entomol. Res. 26: 1-9. 156. Carvalho, M. O. 1995. Food preferences of Lasioderma Ryan, L. 1995. Post-harvest tobacco infestation control . serricorne F. (Coleoptera: Anobiidae) on seven Chapman & Hall, London. pp. 5-15. types of tobacco. Notiziario Sulla Protezione Delle Piante., 4: 14-27. SAS Institute. 1996. SAS/STAT software: Changes & enhancement through release 6.11. SAS Instt., Dowd, P. F. 1989. In situ production of hydrolytic Inc., Gary, NC, USA. detoxifying enzymes by symbiotic yeasts in the cigarette beetle (Coleoptera: Anobiidae). J. Steel, R. G. D. and J. H. Torrie. 1980. Principles and Econ. Entomol. 82: 396-400. procedures of statistics: with special reference to biological sciences . McGraw Hill Book Co., Gopalachari, N. C. 1984. Tobacco . Indian Council of New York, USA. Agric. Res., New Delhi. pp. 200-235. USDA. 1972. Stored tobacco - biology and control. Joshi, B. G. 1968. Laboratory studies on the preference of USDA Handbook, No. 233. fresh and stored Lanka tobacco for the development and egg-laying of cigarette beetle (Lasioderma serricorne F.) in comparison to flue-cured tobacco. Indian J. Agric. Sci. 38: 461-464.

Muhammad Saeed, et al. Food preferences of Lasioderma serricorne (F.) (coleoptera: anobidae) …… 284