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Occurrence of psocids and natural predators on organic rice in Calasparra (Murcia, Spain)

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Abstract

Five Psocoptera species: Lepinotus reticulatus, Liposcelis entomophila, Liposcelis mendax, Liposcelis bostrychophila and Liposcelis paeta were identified on organic paddy stored in south-east Spain. The main natural predator associated with the psocids in the study area was the pseudoscorpion Withius piger, reported for the first time within the Iberian Peninsula.

Introduction

Psocoptera is a relatively small order of insects with approximately 4400 species worldwide. Some are adapted to live in food stores, food processing facilities, bulk grain, houses, etc. (Sedlacek et al., 1996). Indoors, their occurrence is more frequent in humid environments (Baz and Monserrat, 1999). There are reports of their presence in various products: coffee and cocoa (Casteels et al., 1995), tobacco (Mashaya, 1999) and cereal-derived foods (Turner, 1987). They are regarded as secondary pests, often overlooked due to their small size and the existence of other more damaging primary pests especially in cereal grains. Nevertheless, Rees and Walker (1990) reported that psocids can cause contamination and weight and quality loss in rice.

Liposcelididae is one of the commonest families of Psocoptera in stored products (Kalinovic and Ivezic, 1996). Liposcelis species have been cited as pests in the UK (Turner, 1994), Australia (Rees, 2002), Indonesia (Leong and Ho, 1990), Mexico (Garcı́a Aldrete and Gutierrez Dı́az, 1995) and the United States (Mockford, 1991) among others. Outbreaks of psocids have recently been detected when grain protectants or phophine fumigations were applied (Nayak et al., 1998; Riudavets et al., 2001; Rees, 2002).

Calasparra (Murcia, Spain) is a small hilly locality where “guarantee of origin” rice has been produced since the XVth century. As part of a broader survey of stored-rice pests, we have identified the species of psocids and their natural predators in this organic product.

Only two milling and storage facilities exist within the area and both (Stores 1 and 2) were included in our research. Organic paddy (variety “Balilla×Sollana”) is stored in bulk on the floor. Relative humidity and temperature in the grain were registered every hour using data loggers (Testostor 171-3) placed 10 cm deep in the bulks.

Section snippets

Sampling and trapping

The period of study was from December 2001 to September 2002 on rice harvested in November 2001. Organic paddy and subproducts (husk, embryo, bran and broken rice) were sampled three times during the period of study; 500 g samples were incubated (temperature of 20°C or 30°C in the dark) in the laboratory for 6 months and afterwards inspected (every month) visually for the presence of psocids which were counted and identified. Twenty pairs of pitfall traps (CSL PC trap) were each placed in the

Species identification

Five psocopteran species were identified using the keys of Broadhead (1950), and Lienhard (1990), Lienhard (1998). Three of them occurred in high numbers: Lepinotus reticulatus, Liposcelis entomophila and Liposcelis mendax (Table 1). Liposcelis paeta was a rare capture and Liposcelis bostrychophila appeared after sample incubation but not in traps.

This is the first taxonomic identification of the species of Psocoptera present on Spanish rice. Riudavets et al. (2002) collected (in Cataluña,

Acknowledgements

This work was funded by INIA (Project RTA01-024). We acknowledge A.Baz (psocids), F.Ferragut (mites) and J.Garcı́a (pseudoscorpion) for insect identification. We also thank M. Ocaña and M.J. Garcı́a for their technical support. Finally, we appreciate “Consejo Regulador de la D.O. Arroz de Calasparra” for permitting this study to be undertaken.

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