Effect of Corn Flour on Growth and Development of Tribolium Castaneum : Coleoptera:Tenebrionidae

The flour beetle T.castaneum is an important worldwide pest of stored products (Mabbet, 1993) that feeding upon a wide range of commodities, especially wheat flour. Nutrition involves the nutrient materials, which are available in foodstuff and the physiological, and biochemical processes by which these nutrient materials are transformed into body tissues and energy for all the activities as life demands.Variation in the quantity and quality of an acceptable diet can have profound effect on insect development. The quantities of protein and amino acids ingested are important for optimal growth and development. The ultimate size of the insects, reflected in the gain in body nitrogen increase as nitrogen intake is increased (Hone and Watanabe, 1983). Commonly as food intake decrease, the duration of development is extended and the insect becomes smaller and lighter in weight.