Effects of Interspecific Competition on the Population Dynamics of Four Stored Grain Insect Pests

The effects of interspecific competition on the population dynamics of four insect grain Insecp pests ( Sitophilus zeamais , Rhizopertha dominica , Tribolium castaneum and Cryptolestes ferrugineus ) was studied at 30°C, 75% relative humidity. A regression analysis of the population dynamics was conducted. The results showed that population growth of S. zeamais,R. dominica, T. castaneum and C. ferrugineus was restrained under mixed rearing. Population growth of T. castaneum and C. ferrugineus was remarkably accelerated when they coexisted with S. zeamais or R. dominica, while that of S. zeamais and R. dominica was restrained to some extent. Regression analysis results showed that the population growth potential of S. zeamais was the largest and that of C. ferrugineus was the smallest, and the changing trends of population growth rates were not distinct