Insects and fungi in stored maize in Angola

Abstract

In underdeveloped countries in Asia and Africa, non-effective post-harvest technologies and sometimes ideal environmental conditions for development of pests like insects, fungi, rodents and birds, can lead to damage of both raw or processed foods. Losses can achieve considerable proportions in dried vegetables used as food products, particularly in underdeveloped countries where food security problems are a daily basis routine. The major goal of the present study was the identification of insects and fungi associated with maize under local storage conditions in the Angola provinces of de Benguela, Bié, Cuando Cubango, Cuanza sul, Huambo, Huíla, Luanda, Malange and Namibe. A wide range of storage methods for cereals were sampled, from small containers of peasants and small farmers up to the large metal containers used by large agricultural companies and Estates. The achieved results will contribute for food security improvement in Angola and for the maintenance and preservation of good and healthy seeds at the traditional farmers’ community level. The insect pests registered from the studied samples were Cryptolestes ferrugineus, Gnatocerus maxillosus, Liposcelis bostrychophila, Oryzaephilus surinamensis, Rhyzopertha dominica, Sitophilus zeamais, Sitotroga cerealella and Tribolium castaneum. The species Prostephanus truncatus was not found in the studied samples. Fungi in the genus Aspergillus, Fusarium and Penicillium were presented at a high incidence in all samples studied, although the relative abundance of different fungi species varied with the sample location.

Keywords

• maize
• insects
• fungi
• angola
• storage