U.S. Department of Agriculture: Agricultural Research Service, Lincoln, Nebraska
Document Type
Article
Date of this Version
1998
Citation
J. Econ. Entomol. 91(4): 899-904 (1998)
Abstract
Wheat kernels infested internally with larvae of 3 primary insect pests of grain, the rice weevil, Sitophilus oryzae (L.); the lesser grain borer, Rhyzopertha dominica (F.); and the Angoumois grain moth, Sitotroga cerealella (Olivier), were scanned with a near-infrared spectrometer incorporated into a single kernel characterization system to determine differences in absorption due to the presence of larvae. The single kernel characterization system delivers kernels into the spectrometer viewing area at the rate of 1 per 4s. We were able to differentiate uninfested kernels from kernels infested with larvae of all 3 species by using this automated system. Moisture content, protein content, or wheat class did not affect classification accuracy. The calibration included spectral characteristics in the wavelength ranges of 1,000-1,350 and 1,500-1,680 nm. Larval size was a factor in the sensitivity of the system, with 3rd and 4th instars rice weevil being detected with 95% confidence. In contrast to many other procedures used to detect internal insect infestations in grain, this system could be incorporated into the current grain inspection process and provide the grain industry with quantitative data on internal insect infestations in wheat.
Comments
This document is a U.S. government work and is not subject to copyright in the United States.