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Department of Zoology, University of Kuwait, P.O. Box 5969, Safat 13060, Kuwait

ABSTRACT

The food preference and feeding activity of the flour beetle Tribolitim castaneum (Herbst), a major pest of stored products in Kuwait, was investigated. Wheat flour and semolina were shown to be more suitable than rice and broken wheat for the development of the different stages of the life cycle of the beetle. Food materials of relatively small particle size are preferred over larger particles. The insect has also shown clear preference for wheat extracts in some solvents. Qualitative and quantitative chemical analyses of these extracts were used to explain food choice of the beetle.