Environmental Entomology (1980) 9, 204-212

V.F. Wright, E. De Las Casas and P.K. Harein (1980)
The nutritional value and toxicity of Penicillium isolates for Tribolium confusum
Environmental Entomology 9 (2), 204-212
Abstract: Certain fungi were found to be valuable dietary supplements for stored-product beetles. Penicillium spp. were compared with brewer's yeast as nutritional supplements in wheat flour diets for Tribolium confusum. Only 3 fungal isolates of 20 tested added no nutritional value to autoclaved wheat flour (P. purpurogenum, P. rubrum, and P. oxalicum) P. chrysogenum and P. viridicatum allowed excellent larval growth, minimal development time and low mortality. More progeny were produced on P. chrysogenum diets than on control diets. Some other isolates were toxic or repellent. P. purpurogenum and P. rubrum were poor growth media, increased development time and caused high mortality (99% for one isolate of P. purpurogenum). Growth of these 2 species on wheat resulted in physical characteristics (hardened kernels, oily texture) which may have deterred insect feeding. Extracts revealed only small quantities of mycotoxins present in these fungal cultures.
(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:
environment - cropping system/rotation

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Tribolium confusum
	Penicillium purpurogenum
	Penicillium chrysogenum
	Penicillium oxalicum
	Penicillium viridicatum