Environmental Entomology (1972) 1, 180-194

Phillip K. Harein, Ernesto de las Casas, C.T. Larsen and B.S. Pomeroy (1972)
Microbial relationship between the lesser mealworm and its associated environment in a turkey brooder house
Environmental Entomology 1 (2), 180-194
Abstract: This research was designed to investigate microbiological relationships between adult Alphitobius diaperinus (Panzer) and its environment in a turkey brooder house. Insect, litter, and dust samples were collected weekly and cultured on different media to identify bacteria and fungi and to estimate relative levels of microbiological contamination.
The number of bacteria and fungi increased during the 13-week sampling period, the amount depending on the type of sample. Surface and subsurface litter became heavily contaminated with bacteria, both having similar bacterial counts. The total number of bacteria in the dust was less than in the litter. The lesser mealworm carried the least. However, a greater percentage of the surface-disinfected lesser mealworms was contaminated with Escherichia coli than any other type sample, and these represented the largest number of the different isolates identified. The lesser mealworm also was the 1st type sample found positive for Salmonella spp. Subsurface litter and dust had the greatest amount of fungi, surface litter was second, while the lesser mealworm had the least amount.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
general biology - morphology - evolution
environment - cropping system/rotation

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Alphitobius diaperinus