Sitophilus zeamais (Motschulsky): the primary obstacles in the maize quality and quantity

Abstract One of the main obstacles to maize farming is the extensive loss of yields caused by the investment of the Sitophilus zeamais (Motschulsky) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) during the storage period. This pest attacks maize kernels in the active larval stage; they burrow, attack, and hide in seeds. Some research reports that this pest attack can cause damage between 18-20%; in conditions of high water content, the damage rate can reach 30-40%. In addition to direct damage, this pest attack can reduce product and nutritional quality, seed weight, and the percentage of germination, which will reduce market value. Besides being able to cause severe damage to maize kernels, this pest also attacks several other agricultural products in stockpiles, such as sorghum, rice, wheat, and processed food products such as pasta and biscuits. This paper reviews several significant research results on the insect pest Sitophilus zeamais Motsch. In the future, it is hoped that it will provide helpful information for researchers and academics everywhere.