Population Growth and Damage Potential of Trogoderma granarium Everts (Coleoptera: Dermestidae) on Gluten-Free Commodities

Yunus Emre Altunç

doi:10.29133/yyutbd.1859015

Population Growth and Damage Potential of Trogoderma granarium Everts (Coleoptera: Dermestidae) on Gluten-Free Commodities

Abstract

Trogoderma granarium Everts (Coleoptera: Dermestidae) is recognized as one of the most damaging quarantine insects on stored grains. However, with the increasing international trade of gluten-free products, it is important to increase our current level of knowledge to better understand their potential susceptibility to infestation by this quarantine insects. For this, the study examined the development potential of T. granarium on three internationally traded gluten-free products, quinoa, chia, and linseed, when subjected to whole and flour forms of these products. The adults of T. granarium were allowed to grow on whole and flour forms of each product, and the progeny development were recorded after 65 days. Results on population growth, frass production and commodity weight loss, differed significantly on different products as well as their forms. Progeny development, egg production, and pupal weight of T. granarium as well as frass production and commodity weight loss, were found to be significantly higher in quinoa, especially in flour, compared to other products. Chia seeds, both in whole and flour form, recorded the lowest results on above parameters. Linseed was found to be support highest insect pupal weight as well as frass production. These results demonstrate that both the commodity itself and physical form strongly affect T. granarium population dynamics and damage. The findings point out quinoa flour as a high-risk commodity for infestation and highlight the need to incorporate emerging gluten-free commodities into postharvest risk assessment programs.

Keywords

References

Abdel-Hameid, N. F., & Ibrahim, S. T. (2023). Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) seeds storage in relation to insect pests' infestation and some biological information. Egyptian Academic Journal of Biological Sciences A, Entomology, 16(2), 29-37. https://doi.org/10.21608/eajbsa.2023.297323
Adams, J. M. (1976). Weight loss caused by development of Sitophilus zeamais Motsch. in maize. Journal of Stored Products Research, 12(4), 269-272. https://doi.org/10.1016/0022-474X(76)90043-6
Altunç, Y. E., Agrafioti, P., Lampiri, E., Güncan, A., Tsialtas, I. T., & Athanassiou, C. G. (2023). Population growth of Prostephanus truncatus and Sitophilus zeamais and infestation patterns in three maize hybrids. Journal of Stored Products Research, 101, 102091. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jspr.2023.102091
Arioglu-Tuncil, S. (2025). A comparative assessment of flaxseed (Linum usitatissimum L.) and chia seed (Salvia hispanica L.) in modulating fecal microbiota composition and function in vitro. Food Science & Nutrition, 13, e70243. https://doi.org/10.1002/fsn3.70243
Arthur, F. H., Bautista, R. C., & Siebenmorgen, T. J. (2007). Influence of growing location and cultivar on Rhyzopertha dominica (Coleoptera: Bostrichidae) and Sitophilus oryzae (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) infestation of rough rice. Insect Science, 14(3), 231-239. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1744-7917.2007.00149.x
Athanassiou, C. G., Opit, G. P., & Throne, J. E. (2010). Influence of commodity type, percentage of cracked kernels, and wheat class on population growth of stored-product psocids (Psocoptera: Liposcelidae). Journal of Economic Entomology, 103(3), 985-990. https://doi.org/10.1603/EC09280
Athanassiou, C. G., Kavallieratos, N. G., & Boukouvala, M. C. (2016). Population growth of the khapra beetle, Trogoderma granarium Everts (Coleoptera: Dermestidae) on different commodities. Journal of Stored Products Research, 69, 72-77. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jspr.2016.05.001
Athanassiou, C. G., Phillips, T. W., & Wakil, W. (2019). Biology and control of the khapra beetle, Trogoderma granarium, a major quarantine threat to global food security. Annual Review of Entomology, 64(1), 131-148. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-ento-011118-111804

Awadalla, H. S., Abdel-Hady, A. A., Shalaby, M. M., Hashem, A. S., & Ramadan, M. M. (2024). Development, survival, and reproduction of the khapra beetle, Trogoderma granarium Everts (Coleoptera: Dermestidae) in response to different stored diets and their chemical composition. Journal of Plant Protection and Pathology, 15(9), 271-276. https://doi.org/10.21608/jppp.2024.318987.1264
Barzin, S., Naseri, B., Fathi, S. A. A., Razmjou, J., & Aeinehchi, P. (2019). Feeding efficiency and digestive physiology of Trogoderma granarium Everts (Coleoptera: Dermestidae) on different rice cultivars. Journal of Stored Products Research, 84, 101511. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jspr.2019.101511
Bousquet, Y. (1990). Beetles associated with stored products in Canada: An identification guide. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.
Burges, H. D. (1963). Studies on the Dermestid beetle Trogoderma granarium Everts. VI.—Factors inducing diapause. Bulletin of Entomological Research, 54(3), 571-587. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0007485300049026
Cominelli, F., Reguzzi, M. C., Aldini, R. N., & Mazzoni, E. (2020). Insect pest susceptibility of grains and seeds recently introduced to the Italian market: An experimental evaluation. Journal of Stored Products Research, 89, 101691. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jspr.2020.101691
European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organization (EPPO). (2013). Diagnostics: PM 7/13 (2) Trogoderma granarium. EPPO Bulletin, 43(3), 431-448.
Fox, J., & Weisberg, S. (2019). An R companion to applied regression (3rd ed.). Sage.
Gerken, A. R., & Campbell, J. F. (2020). Oviposition and development of Tribolium castaneum Herbst (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) on different types of flour. Agronomy, 10(10), 1593. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy10101593
Golizadeh, A., & Abedi, Z. (2016). Comparative performance of the Khapra beetle, Trogoderma granarium Everts (Coleoptera: Dermestidae) on various wheat cultivars. Journal of Stored Products Research, 69, 159-165. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jspr.2016.08.003
Gourgouta, M., Athanassiou, C. G., & Arthur, F. H. (2021). Susceptibility of four different sorghum varieties to infestation by the khapra beetle. Journal of Economic Entomology, 114(3), 1373-1379. https://doi.org/10.1093/jee/toab018
Hagstrum, D. W., Klejdysz, T., Subramanyam, B., & Nawrot, J. (2013). Atlas of stored-product insects and mites. AACC International Press.
Harman, R. R., Morrison, W. R., III, Altunç, Y. E., Athanassiou, C. G., & Gerken, A. R. (2025). Increasing global risk of khapra beetle invasion forecasted under projected environmental conditions. Scientific Reports, 15(1), 26064. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-11690-8
Harmatha, J., & Dinan, L. (2003). Biological activities of lignans and stilbenoids associated with plant-insect chemical interactions. Phytochemistry Reviews, 2(3), 321-330.
Hashem, A. S., Amin, H. E., Ramadan, M. M., Abdel-Hady, A. A., Awadalla, H. S., Al-Solami, H. M., Sharawi S. E., Alghamdi A. G., Alkenani N. A., Mahran H. A., & Guedes, R. N. C. (2025). Unraveling grain vulnerability to the khapra beetle (Trogoderma granarium): Structure and mineral content. Journal of Stored Products Research, 112, 102647. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jspr.2025.102647
Hothorn, T., Bretz, F., & Westfall, P. (2008). Simultaneous inference in general parametric models. Biometrical Journal: Journal of Mathematical Methods in Biosciences, 50(3), 346-363. https://doi.org/10.1002/bimj.200810425
Kajla, P., Sharma, A., & Sood, D. R. (2015). Flaxseed-a potential functional food source. Journal of Food Science and Technology, 52(4), 1857-1871. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13197-014-1293-y
Kavallieratos, N. G., Athanassiou, C. G., Arthur, F. H., & Throne, J. E. (2012). Lesser grain borers, Rhyzopertha dominica, select rough rice kernels with cracked hulls for reproduction. Journal of Insect Science, 12(1), 38. https://doi.org/10.1673/031.012.3801
Kavallieratos, N. G., Athanassiou, C. G., Boukouvala, M. C., & Tsekos, G. T. (2019). Influence of different non-grain commodities on the population growth of Trogoderma granarium Everts (Coleoptera: Dermestidae). Journal of Stored Products Research, 81, 31-39. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jspr.2018.12.001
Kyrgiakis, C., Sakka, M. K., & Athanassiou, C. G. (2024). Population growth of different stored product species on wheat, barley, and tritordeum. Food Bioscience, 61, 104698. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fbio.2024.104698
Lampiri, E., Athanassiou, C. G., & Arthur, F. H. (2021). Population growth and development of the khapra beetle (Coleoptera: Dermestidae), on different sorghum fractions. Journal of Economic Entomology, 114(1), 424-429. https://doi.org/10.1093/jee/toaa235
Lampiri, E., Baliota, G. V., Morrison, W. R., Domingue, M. J., & Athanassiou, C. G. (2022). Comparative population growth of the Khapra beetle (Coleoptera: Dermestidae) and the warehouse beetle (Coleoptera: Dermestidae) on wheat and rice. Journal of Economic Entomology, 115(1), 344-352. https://doi.org/10.1093/jee/toab209
Lenth, R. V. (2022). Emmeans: Estimated marginal means, aka least-squares means (R package version 1.8.1-1) [Computer software]. https://CRAN.R-project.org/package=emmeans
Locatelli, D. P., Limonta, L., & Stampini, M. (2008). Effect of particle size of soft wheat flour on the development of Ephestia kuehniella Zeller (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae). Journal of Stored Products Research, 44(3), 269-272. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jspr.2008.02.004
Lowe, S., Browne, M., Boudjelas, S., & De Poorter, M. (2000). 100 of the world’s worst invasive alien species: A selection from the global invasive species database (Vol. 12). The Invasive Species Specialist Group (ISSG).
Machuca-Mesa, L. M., Turchen, L. M., & Guedes, R. N. C. (2024). Phosphine resistance among stored product insect pests: A global meta-analysis-based perspective. Journal of Pest Science, 97(3), 1485-1498. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10340-023-01713-6
Musa, A. K., Kalejaiye, D. M., Ismaila, L. E., & Oyerinde, A. A. (2010). Proximate composition of selected groundnut varieties and their susceptibility to Trogoderma granarium Everts attack. Journal of Stored Products and Postharvest Research, 1, 13-17.
Naseri, B., & Majd-Marani, S. (2022). Different cereal grains affect demographic traits and digestive enzyme activity of Rhyzopertha dominica (F.) (Coleoptera: Bostrichidae). Journal of Stored Products Research, 95, 101898. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jspr.2021.101898
Nietupski, M., Kwiatkowski, J., & Kosewska, A. (2017). Physicochemical properties of achenes of buckwheat cultivars affecting the development of grain weevil (Sitophilus granarius L.) and lesser grain borer (Rhyzopertha dominica F.). Zemdirbyste-Agriculture, 104(4), 311-320. https://doi.org/10.13080/z-a.2017.104.040
R Core Team. (2025). R: A language and environment for statistical computing [Computer software]. R Foundation for Statistical Computing.
Rodríguez, A., Beato, M., Usseglio, V. L., Camina, J., Zygadlo, J. A., Dambolena, J. S., & Zunino, M. P. (2022). Phenolic compounds as controllers of Sitophilus zeamais: A look at the structure-activity relationship. Journal of Stored Products Research, 99, 102038. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jspr.2022.102038
Shah, J. A., Vendl, T., Aulicky, R., & Stejskal, V. (2020). Frass produced by the primary pest Rhyzopertha dominica supports the population growth of the secondary stored product pests Oryzaephilus surinamensis, Tribolium castaneum, and T. confusum. Bulletin of Entomological Research, 111(2), 153-159. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0007485320000425
Woomer, J. S., & Adedeji, A. A. (2021). Current applications of gluten-free grains – a review. Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition, 61(1), 14-24. https://doi.org/10.1080/10408398.2020.1713724

Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Entomology in Agriculture

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Yunus Emre Altunç ^*
0000-0001-5539-552X
Türkiye

Publication Date

June 2, 2026

Submission Date

January 8, 2026

Acceptance Date

April 22, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Number: 1

DOI

https://doi.org/10.29133/yyutbd.1859015

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA62RH49RW

Cite

RIS / Bibtex

APA

Altunç, Y. E. (2026). Population Growth and Damage Potential of Trogoderma granarium Everts (Coleoptera: Dermestidae) on Gluten-Free Commodities. Yuzuncu Yıl University Journal of Agricultural Sciences, 1, 1859015. https://doi.org/10.29133/yyutbd.1859015

AMA

1.Altunç YE. Population Growth and Damage Potential of Trogoderma granarium Everts (Coleoptera: Dermestidae) on Gluten-Free Commodities. YYU J AGR SCI. 2026;(1):1859015. doi:10.29133/yyutbd.1859015

Chicago

Altunç, Yunus Emre. 2026. “Population Growth and Damage Potential of Trogoderma Granarium Everts (Coleoptera: Dermestidae) on Gluten-Free Commodities”. Yuzuncu Yıl University Journal of Agricultural Sciences, no. 1: 1859015. https://doi.org/10.29133/yyutbd.1859015.

EndNote

Altunç YE (June 1, 2026) Population Growth and Damage Potential of Trogoderma granarium Everts (Coleoptera: Dermestidae) on Gluten-Free Commodities. Yuzuncu Yıl University Journal of Agricultural Sciences 1 1859015.

IEEE

[1]Y. E. Altunç, “Population Growth and Damage Potential of Trogoderma granarium Everts (Coleoptera: Dermestidae) on Gluten-Free Commodities”, YYU J AGR SCI, no. 1, p. 1859015, June 2026, doi: 10.29133/yyutbd.1859015.

ISNAD

Altunç, Yunus Emre. “Population Growth and Damage Potential of Trogoderma Granarium Everts (Coleoptera: Dermestidae) on Gluten-Free Commodities”. Yuzuncu Yıl University Journal of Agricultural Sciences. 1 (June 1, 2026): 1859015. https://doi.org/10.29133/yyutbd.1859015.

JAMA

1.Altunç YE. Population Growth and Damage Potential of Trogoderma granarium Everts (Coleoptera: Dermestidae) on Gluten-Free Commodities. YYU J AGR SCI. 2026;:1859015.

MLA

Altunç, Yunus Emre. “Population Growth and Damage Potential of Trogoderma Granarium Everts (Coleoptera: Dermestidae) on Gluten-Free Commodities”. Yuzuncu Yıl University Journal of Agricultural Sciences, no. 1, June 2026, p. 1859015, doi:10.29133/yyutbd.1859015.

Vancouver

1.Yunus Emre Altunç. Population Growth and Damage Potential of Trogoderma granarium Everts (Coleoptera: Dermestidae) on Gluten-Free Commodities. YYU J AGR SCI. 2026 Jun. 1;(1):1859015. doi:10.29133/yyutbd.1859015