Climbing ability of Tribolium castaneum (Herbst) and T. confusum J. du Val on food packaging materials

Climbing ability of Tribolium castaneum and T. confusum was tested by placing on wood props with different angles (0, 30, 45, 60 and 90°) stripes (5x10 cm) of packaging materials. Tests were carried out at 22±1°C and at 27 ±1°C, 60±10% r.h., in a chamber with natural light, conditions usually recorded in stores and processing departments. The two species climb corrugated paper placed on wood props with angles of 30, 45, 60, and 90°. On the other tested materials, from an angle of 30°, they showed a scarce ability to climb. Sometimes the two species appear to display different climbing ability. However this indication is not supported by the results of the statistical analysis.