Infestation of Stored Products by Insects

Abstract

ALTHOUGH the losses caused to growing crops by insects have long been recognised, the losses caused to crops after harvesting and during storage and transport have been strangely neglected both by the biologist and the industrialist. These losses are none the less of grave importance and take in the main three forms: absolute loss of goods resulting from consumption by the insect, indirect loss resulting from the lower price paid for soiled or infested produce and indirect loss resulting from loss of prestige by the merchant or manufacturer who inadvertently places infested produce on the market. This last form of loss is almost wholly incalculable, but that it is high is evident from the almost extravagant care which our food industries take to prevent any knowledge of infestation from reaching the general public.