INTEGRATED PEST-MANAGEMENT PERCEPTIONS AND PRACTICES AND INSECT POPULATIONS IN GROCERY STORES IN SOUTH-CENTRAL UNITED-STATES

Objectives of this study were to examine Integrated Pest Management (I PM) perceptions and practices in grocery stores, and to quantify by lo cation, the occurrence and abundance of stored product insects. The fi rst objective was accomplished by surveying grocery store employees of 322 grocery stores in Oklahoma, Arkansas and Texas using a 28 questio n survey. Grocers lacked knowledge of IPM practices, yet over half wer e interested in learning more about IPM. Present management practices are pesticide intensive with limited use of alternatives including san itation, stock rotation and trapping. Presently, grocers depend on pes t control companies to find and control problem insects in the store. Insects reported by grocers as problems were weevils, cockroaches, fli es and ants. Extensive trapping in eight Oklahoma grocery stores targe ted pet foods, cake mixes, and back room areas. Trapping studies showe d stored product insects were abundant in all stores. The most prevale nt insects found in traps included the Indian meal moth, Plodia interp unctella (Hubner); merchant grain beetle, Oryzaephilus mercator (Fauve l); and drugstore beetle, Stegobium paniceum (L.). Stored product inse cts were concentrated in pet food areas and were readily found in the stores. (C) 1998 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserve d.