Project Number: 5430-43000-027-08
Project Type: Specific Cooperative Agreement

Start Date: Aug 13, 2007
End Date: Jun 30, 2009

Objective:
The objective of this cooperative research is to develop computer models that predict population dynamics of stored product insects in flour mills, and the effects of various treatments, such as methyl-bromide fumigation, sulfuryl fluoride fumigation, and heat treatments. These models will be used to develop optimal management strategies for these food pests in flour mills.

Approach:
An existing population dynamics model of the red flour beetle for stored grain will be adapted for use in flour mills. A new model will be developed for the warehouse beetle using existing biological data. The models will use a temperature-dependent distributed delay process to simulate all life stages of these insects. Previously collected hourly temperature data for each floor in the mill will be used to drive the models. Previously collected data on changes in insect density over time in several flour mills will be used to validate the models. Stage-specific insect mortality for the different control methods will be modeled based on existing data from the literature.