Source: SEAMEO BIOTROP's Research Grant | 2019
Abstract:
Insect pheromones have been proven to be effective as population
monitoring tool or as population control agents of stored-product insects. The objectives of this research were (1)
to inventory the diversity of insect pest species in stored coffee beans, (2)
to analyse the losses of dried coffee beans attacked by coffee bean weevils
during storage and compares it with other products: dried cassava and cocoa
beans, (3) to isolate and identify bio-active subtances (suspected to contain
pheromones) from coffee bean weevil.
Field survey found that major pest of dried coffee beans during storage
was coffee beans weevil, Araecerus
fasciculatus. Other insects found
were Alphitobius sp., Lasioderma serricorne, and Ahasverus sp. with very low
population. The highest losses due to
coffee bean weevil attact were dried cassava, followed by cocoa bean and coffee
bean. Isolation of bio-active substances from coffee bean weevil found that
squalene known as aggregation pheromone produce by this insect. This chemical was isolated from mixture
population of virgin male and female of coffee bean weevils with aeration
method headspace sampling using charcoal tube.