Feasibility of Using Aeration To Control Insect Pests of Corn Stored in Southeast Georgia: Simulated Field Test

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Abstract
Temperatures in aerated and unaerated corn stored in 2,545.45-kg (100-bushel) bins from 15 October 1992 to 3 June 1993 in Savannah, GA, were monitored at seven different sites within each bin. The corn was infested periodically with adult maize weevils, Sitophilus zeamais Motschulsky, adult red flour beetles, Tribolium castaneum (Herbst), and eggs of the Indianmeal moth, Plodia interpunctella (Hübner), and the almond moth, Cadra cautella (Walker), at selected intervals during storage. Bins were sampled each month using pitfall traps, cardboard traps, and a grain trier. Average daily temperatures in aerated bins were 11.49-15.49°C compared with 15.27-18.70°C in unaerated bins. Average temperatures at six of the seven sample positions were significantly greater in unaerated than in aerated bins. Total degree accumulations ranged from 2,654 to 3,527°C in aerated bins and 3,740 to 4,320°C in unaerated bins. Trap samples and trier samples were taken monthly at the approximate position of the temperature probes (seven positions, seven monthly samples); moth counts from cardboard traps were combined as one value per bin. During the sampling period, the average numbers of trapped maize weevils and red flour beetles were significantly greater in unaerated bins than in aerated bins for eight and 13 position comparisons, respectively (seven positions × seven monthly samples = 49 possible comparisons). The average numbers of Indianmeal moths and almond moths were significantly greater in unaerated than in aerated bins for two of seven and one of seven monthly samples, respectively. Moisture content was significantly greater in unaerated than in aerated corn for 43 of 49 sample comparisons for the entire study.

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