News Release Distributed 02/26/15
CROWLEY, La. – The LSU AgCenter hosted a workshop on rice mill insect pest management Wednesday (Feb. 25).
Representatives from four states and the U.S. Department of Agriculture made presentations on control measures studied in a project funded by the USDA.
Representatives of area rice mills and grain storage facilities, along with a few farmers, attended the workshop.
Insect pests of stored rice include the warehouse beetle and the red flour beetle.
The chemical fumigant methyl bromide has been phased out worldwide, and researchers are working to replace it, according to LSU AgCenter entomologist Julien Beuzelin. “The landscape of control is changing because of the loss of methyl bromide,” he said.
Other chemicals, such as phosphine and sulfuryl fluoride, are available, but researchers discussed nonchemical control measures, including aeration of stored grain and keeping mills free of plant waste material.
Economist Brian Adam of Oklahoma State University said some insects have developed resistance to phosphine.
Frank Arthur of the USDA said milling debris provides food for insects and reduces the effectiveness of insecticides.
Cooling rice in bins can reduce insect reproduction, according to James Campbell of the USDA.
Bruce Schultz