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INSECTS m&m v
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FARM-STORED

WHEAT

How to Control Them

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Leaflet No. 345

U.S. Department of Agriculture

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 INSECTS IN FARM-STORED WHEAT
—HOW TO CONTROL THEM
Wheat in a bin is like money in a vault . . .

Are you protecting your cash from insects?

If you have wheat in storage on your farm, make sure the bin is

what it should be — a place where the wheat is protected and preserved.

Don't let it be a place where weevils, grain borers, and other granary
pests eat away the wheat — and your income.
Insects in farm-stored wheat cost American farmers millions of
dollars every year. The loss is preventable. It is waste. It hits the
farmer in two ways:
First, some of the wheat is destroyed by the insects.
Second, some of it is made unfit for milling. Infested wheat may
bring only feed-grain prices at the elevator. Weevil-infested grain
is not accepted by millers for processing into flour, cereal, and other
food products.
Wheat seldom contains insects when it comes from the harvest field.
The job is to keep it free of insects when it is stored. Do these things:
1. Clean bin thoroughly; make it tight and weatherproof before
storing the wheat.

2. Spray inside surface of the bin with a residual insecticide.

3. Protect the wheat by applying a protective treatment or a

fumigant.
4. Inspect the wheat regularly, and treat it when necessary.
 PREPARATION OF THE HI>S
Keeping insects out of wheat after mangers, and animal feeders harbor
it is enough of a task. Don't
stored is many insects that are likely to migrate
make it harder by putting wheat into to bins of grain.Wagons, trucks, com-
a bin where insects are waiting for it. bines, and other farm equipment con-
Wheat is free from insects when it taining accumulations of waste grain
comes from the field; keep it that way. are all sources of infestation. Do not
Store wheat in metal bins that are store grain near any of these danger
easy to clean, or in properly con- points.
structed, weathertight wooden bins. Clean out the bin month
at least a

The bins should be in a separate build- before it is to be Remove

filled.

ing. If a building in which grain is leftovers of old grain: sweep down

stored is constantly being entered for the walls; sweep the floor. Remove
one purpose or another, it will be diffi- accumulations of waste grain from
cult to keep out rodents and birds. under and around the bin. On the
In wooden bins, double walls and surface at least, the bin is now free
floors allow the accumulation of waste from insects.
grain and grain dust that become in- See what other places you can clean
fested with insects. They are difficult up. to prevent insects from migrating
tocombat under these circumstances. to the new grain. Clear trash and litter

Feed rooms or bins containing seed from bin area. Insects live from season
or poultry or animal feeds, stables. to season around farm buildings in

N-100S

Sweep down the walls and ceiling. Sweep the floor.

spilled grain and accumulations of dry. To do this, you must have a tight,
grain and feed. Cleaning up these weatherproof bin.
places helps control not only insects, How about the roof and side walls?
but also rats and mice. Will they keep out the rain and snow?
Granary pests like moisture with Can ground water and moisture get
their grain. The less moisture stored through the foundation and floor?
wheat contains, the less attractive it Will doors and windows keep out
is to insects. driving rain?
Try to wheat when it is
store the Does your bin have adequate venti-
dry. If for some reason you have lation?
to store wheat with high moisture Besides keeping out bad weather,
content, check frequently to see tight construction keeps out rats, mice,
whether insects are developing in and birds. If fumigation of the bin
it. The more moisture there is, the becomes necessary, tight construction
closer you have to keep watch. makes that job easier and more effec-
Once the wheat is stored, keep it tive.

BN-3062(C) BN-3058(C)

Adults of the lesser grain borer. Adult of the rice weevil.

BIN TREATMENT
Insects may be living in cracks or Buy one of these insecticides in the
burrows in and floors of
the walls form of wettable powder or emulsifi-
wooden bins, where your cleanup can't able concentrate and mix it with water.
reach them. Destroy them with an The label will tell you how much to
insecticide. use for a spray containing the desired
Prepare a spray containing 2.5 per- percentage of insecticide.
cent of premium-grade malathion or Apply the spray to all surfaces inside
methoxychlor, or 0.3 percent of pyre- the bin. Apply it at the rate of 2 gal-
thrins in combination with 3 percent of lons to 1,000 square feet. Use a garden
piperonyl butoxide. sprayer or a power sprayer.
The map shows, by regions, the degree to which farm-stored grain in the United
States subject to insect attack: Region 1, little if any damage occurs to wheat
is
on the farm during the first season's storage. Region 2, insects may be trouble-
some during the first season. Region 3. insects are troublesome every year.
Region 4, insects are a serious problem throughout the storage period.

GRAIX TREATMENT
When you are satisfied that the bin with water. Lse them as directed on
will keep the wheat dry. and that the manufacturer's label. The Food
insects in it and near it have been and Drug Administration has estab-
destroyed, there is a further step lished tolerances of 8 parts per million
that you can take to ward off insect (p. p.m. I for malathion, 3 p.p.m. for
infestation. pyrethrins. and 20 p.p.m. of piperonyl
Apply a protective spray or dust butoxide in wheat.
to the wheat before it is stored or The protective dusts are premium-
as it goes into the bin. Or fumigate grade malathion or the pyrethrins in
the wheat after it is in the bin. The combination with piperonyl butoxide
materials are sold where other agri- in wheat dust.
cultural chemicals are sold. Both sprays and dusts can be applied
to the grain at various times before it

Protectants goes into the bin — as it comes from the

Protective sprays or dusts applied to combine, or as it is unloaded at the bin.

clean wheat at the time of storage Several types of sprayers are avail-
prevent insect infestation for about one able for applying these sprays. Some
season. These sprays and dusts may are simple hand sprayers that are easily
be considerably less effective and for a operated. Others have cvlinders of
shorter time in region 4 see map than i I compressed air or motor-driven pumps.
in the other regions. (For methods and equipment for apply-
The protective sprays are premium- ing protectee sprays and dusts to grain,
grade malathion or pyrethrum plus see "Method and Equipment for Bulk
piperonyl butoxide. These insecticides Treatment of Grain Against Insects.""
are available as ready-to-use formula- I .S. Department of Agriculture Mar-

tions or as concentrates to be mixed keting Bulletin No. 20.)

 —

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Applying protective spray to wheat as it Applying fumigant to farm-stored wheat

is binned. with a hand sprayer.

Surface Sprays and Dusts control any insect infestation already

Insecticidal sprays or dusts can be
applied to the surface of stored wheat
to control moth infestation, to supple-
ment protective treatments, or to help
prevent insects from entering the grain.
Surface treatments, however, do not
established below the surface of the
grain.
Premium-grade maiathioii and pyre-
thrum in combination with piperonyl
butoxide are approved for use in sur-
face sprays and dusts. Follow the man-
ufacturer's directions carefully.

FUMIGANTS
Kinds and Dosages How To Fumigate
Fumigants are sold under various First, level the surface of the wheat
trade names. The ingredients are in the bin.

shown on the labels. The label on Then apply the fumigant as a

the fumigant >ou buy will probably coarse spray over the surface. Ap-
show that it is one of those listed in ply it evenly.
the table that follows.
Small quantities of stored wheat can
The table shows the ingredients in
be fumigated quickly and effectively
some readily available fumigants, the
by applying the fumigant with a gar-
recommended dosage for each fumi-
den sprayer or a bucket-pump sprayer.
gant, and the established tolerances.
If you use a garden sprayer
Several other suitable fumigants are
available. If you use one not on the Enlarge the opening in the spray
list given here, follow the manufac- disk to the diameter of an 8-penny
turer's dosage recommendations.
 Dosage per ,000
bushels

Fumigant
Wheat in Wheat in
wooden metal or
bin concrete
bin

Gal. Gal.
Carbon tetrachloride 0Q7c ) (

Carbon tetrachloride (80^)+carbon disulfide (207c)

Ethylene dichloride 759£) + carbon tetrachloride (257c)
(

Carbon tetrachloride (607c) + ethylene dichloride (359?) -(-ethyl-

ene dibromide (5%)'

A tolerance of 50 pans per million has been established as the maximum permissible
1

residue of inorganic bromide on grain resulting from its fumigation with ethylene di-
bromide. Grain treated with ethylene dibromide should be thoroughly aerated before
it is fed to poultry.
Carbon tetrachloride, ethylene dichloride, and carbon disulfide have been exempted
from the need for a tolerance by the Food and Drug Administration.

Remove the spray nozzle and sub- gaskets should be of plastic or syn-
stitute a nozzle made of a pipe one- thetic rubber.
fourth inch in diameter and 6 inches
long; flatten the spray end. When To Fumigate
To fumigate a large quantity of Fumigate within 2 weeks after
wheat, use a power spray pump that binning the wheat if you live in region
will fumigant directly from
take the
4. and within 6 weeks if vou live in
the container in which it is purchased.
region 2 or 3. If you live in region 1.
All pump fittings should be of
bronze, which resists the corrosive fumigate when neces-ary to prevent
action of fumi^ants. Hoses and insect buildup.

BN-3 -
r.N

\dult of the saw-toothed grain beetle V<l»i 1 1 of the confused flour beetle.
 REGULAR INSPECTION
About every 30 days take standard wheat, or as many as five insects of
probe samples from the center of the other kinds such as flour and »rain
I

bin and inspect them for insects. beetles, cadelles. or grain moths) per

Sift the sample through a 10- to quart sample. The fumigation pro-
12-mesh screen. The screen will hold cedure is the same as that described
back the wheat, but insects will sift on page 6.

through. After applying the fumigant evenly

Fumigate at once if you find even over the entire surface, give an extra
one granary weevil, rice weevil, or treatment to any areas where insects
lesser grain borer per quart sample of are especially numerous.

PRECAUTIONS gant vapors or insecticide dusts or

Insecticides and fumigants are poi- mists.

sonous to man and animals. Use Avoid spilling insecticide or fumi-

them only when needed and handle gant on your skin, and keep it out
them with care. Follow the direc- of the eyes, nose, and mouth. If any
tions and heed all precautions on the is spilled on skin or clothing, wash
labels. it off the skin and change clothing
immediately.
Some pesticides used for protecting
seed wheat are deposited in meat, fat,
When handling insecticide, wear
clean, dry clothing.
or milk when fed to animals. Never
mix seed wheat containing such Wash your hands and face before

chemicals with market wheat the — eating or smoking and immediately

after completing insecticide applica-
whole lot may be condemned.
tion.
Keep insecticides or fumigants in
To protect fish and wildlife, do
closed, well-labeled containers in a
not contaminate lakes, streams, or
dry place. Store them where they
ponds with insecticide. Do not clean
will notcontaminate food or feed,
spraying equipment or dump excess
and where children and pets cannot
spray material near such water.
reach them.
Have empty pesticide containers
Always apply fumigant from out- buried at a sanitary land-fill dump,
side a grain bin. or crush and bury them at least 18
Avoid repeated or prolonged con- inches deep in a level, isolated place
tact of insecticide or fumigant with where they will not contaminate water
the skin. Avoid inhalation of fumi- supplies.

Prepared by the Market Quality Research Division, Agricultural Research Service.

Washington, D.C. Revised July 1965

Slightly Revised December 1966

U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: 1966 O — 238-872

For sale by the Superintendent Documents, U.S. Government Printing
of Office
Washington, D.C. 20402 - Price 5 cents