Quality maintenance performance and resistance to Tribolium castaneum and Plodia interpunctella penetration of an alternative packaging material for semolina

Insect attacks to food packages are a major concern for food producers, who are often blamed for being responsible for the occurrence of contamination which seriously affects the image of the company. Wheat semolina is commonly packed in paper bags, which do not always offer sufficient protection against insect pests. The present research evaluated the performance of a new packaging alternative, consisting of paper laminated with polypropylene (P+CPP), in terms of resistance to penetration by two common cereal product pests, namely Tribolium castaneum and Plodia interpunctella, and quality maintenance of the packaged product. Neither of the two pest species tested were able to pierce the P+CPP, while no differences were observed in the time required to penetrate other materials. Moreover, quality parameters, namely pH, acidity and color, did not differ significantly among samples packed in different materials. The new P+CPP combination is a promising alternative for the packaging of semolina, because it offers improved protection against pests compared with conventional materials, while maintaining the paper appearance of traditional packaging

Life Fertility Tables of Piophila casei L. (Diptera: Piophilidae) Reared at Five Different Temperatures

Abstract Piophila casei L. or cheese skipper is a well-known fly with a controversial role: it is considered harmful in the food industries but important in nature as a detritivore and useful for studies in forensic entomology. The temperature response of P. casei was studied at five constant temperatures: 15, 19, 25, 28, and 32°C. The lowest mortality percentage of eggs was recorded at 15°C and the highest at 32°C. Conversely, less mortality was observed for maggots at higher temperatures. The developmental time from first instar to adult decreased with temperature reaching the lowest value at 32°C (13.7 d). Adult longevity was strongly affected by temperature, decreasing from 20.5 d at 15°C to 6.6 d at 32°C. Mean total fecundity per female was higher at 25°C and lower at 15 and 19°C, whereas the best performance in mean daily total fecundity per female was recorded at 32°C. Male longevity followed a similar trend to the one observed for females. The net reproductive rate (R0) was greatest at 25°C, where..

Studio sui materiali alternativi per confezionare la semola

La semola viene normalmente commercializzata in sacchetti di carta Kraft, nonostante questo materiale non garantisca sufficiente protezione contro gli scambi di umidità e le infestazioni di insetti. Lo studio è stato condotto al fine di valutare la capacità di un nuovo imballaggio accoppiato, costituito da carta all’esterno e polipropilene cast all’interno, di proteggere la qualità della semola confezionata. Sono state messe a confronto le performance di quattro materiali (carta, PPcast, carta+PPcast e BOPP+PP cast) relativamente alla protezione della semola dall’attacco dei principali infestanti; sono stati inoltre monitorati i parametri chimico-fsici della semola: acidità, pH, colore e umidità. I materiali accoppiati sono risultati molto resistenti alla penetrazione degli insetti, mentre la carta si è mostrata vulnerabile, anche in funzione delle specie di infestanti. Tutte le analisi effettuate hanno evidenziato il buon comportamento dell’accoppiato carta+PPcast che, soprattutto, ha fatto registrare migliori performance di resistenza alla penetrazione di insetti.Semolina is commonly commercialized in Kraft paper pouches, even if this material does not guarantee sufficient protection against moisture exchanges and insect infestations. The research aimed at evaluating the ability of a new laminated material, consisting of paper externally and cast polypropylene as an inner layer, to maintain the quality of semolina. The performance of four materials (paper, cast PP, paper+cast PP, and BOPP+cast PP) to protect semolina from the attacks of the main pests were compared; moreover, the chemical and physical parameters were monitored, such as acidity, pH, colour, and humidity. The laminated materials were resistant to insect penetration, while paper was easily penetrated, with the time of penetration depending on the insect species. All analyses highlighted the good performance of paper+cast polypropylene with special regards for the resistance to insect penetration

First report of Myzus mumecola (Matsumura, 1917) in Europe

During the spring of 2016, the aphid Myzus mumecola (Matsumura) (Hemiptera: Aphididae) was detected on its preferential host plant, Prunus armeniaca L. (Rosaceae), in Italy. This was the \ufb01rst record of the species in Europe. Several populations of the aphid have been collected in various apricot orchards in Emilia-Romagna, in the localities of Imola, Cam- piano, Cesena and Castiglione di Cervia. The species is considered to be an apricot pest in India and East Asia. Details on the morphology, biology and distribution of this aphid species and the damage it causes are given