Post-harvest
Guides
Carpophilus hemipterus
dried-fruit beetle
Carpophilus hemipterus is a sap-feeding beetle in the family Nitidulidae known as the dried-fruit beetle. It is a cosmopolitan pest of ripening and dried fruits, with documented infestations on dates, litchi, mango, guava, papaya, and stone fruits. The species exhibits strong aggregation behavior mediated by pheromones and shows phototactic flight responses that transition readily to vegetative orientation upon encountering food odors. It completes multiple generations per season in warm climates, with population peaks correlating with temperature and humidity optima. Both adults and larvae cause direct damage to fruits and can vector microorganisms associated with fermentation and aflatoxin production.
Zabrotes subfasciatus
Mexican bean weevil
Zabrotes subfasciatus, commonly known as the Mexican bean weevil, is a small bruchine beetle that infests stored legume seeds, particularly common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris). Females deposit eggs on seed coats; larvae develop endophytically within the cotyledons, consuming the seed from the inside. A single seed can support up to 20 emerging adults. The species has demonstrated capacity to utilize alternative hosts including cowpea (Vigna unguiculata), lentil, chickpea, and soybean, with populations showing plasticity in host preference through artificial selection. Development from egg to adult takes approximately 34 days at 27°C and 70% relative humidity. Maximum female fecundity is around 55 eggs. The species is a significant post-harvest pest in tropical regions, with reported production losses up to 35%.