Experimental and Applied Acarology (2015) 65, 237-242

Jan Hubert, Marta Nesvorna and Vlado Volek (2015)
Stored product mites (Acari: Astigmata) infesting food in various types of packaging
Experimental and Applied Acarology 65 (2), 237-242
Abstract: From 2008 to 2014, stored product mites have been reported from prepackaged dried food on the market in the Czech Republic. The infestation was by Carpoglyphus lactis (L.) in dried fruits and Tyrophagus putrescentiae (Schrank) in dog feed. The infestation is presumably caused by poor protection of the packages. We compared various packaging methods for their resistance to mites using dried apricots and dog feed in laboratory experiments. The trial packages included nine different plastic films, monofilm, duplex and triplex, and one type of plastic cup (ten replicates per packaging type). All packaging materials are available on the Czech market for dried food products. The samples of dried food were professionally packed in a factory and packaged dried apricots were exposed to C. lactis and dog food to T. putrescentiae. After 3 months of exposure, the infestation and mite density of the prepackaged food was assessed. Mites were found to infest six types of packages. Of the packaging types with mites, 1–5 samples were infested and the maximum abundance was 1,900 mites g^-1 of dried food. Mites entered the prepackaged food by faulty sealing. Inadequate sealing is suggested to be the major cause of the emerged infestation of dried food.
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Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Jan Hubert

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
surveys/sampling/distribution

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Tyrophagus putrescentiae	Stored animal feeds/cassava	Czech Republic
	Carpoglyphus lactis	Dried fruits	Czech Republic