ABSTRACT
The efficient control of insects and their removal from food commodities has long been the goal of producers and processors. A great deal of information has been accumulated on radiation effects on insects infesting stored cereal products, fruits, and other commodities. The earliest studies of radiation effects on stored-product insects were concerned with the cigarette beetle, Lasioderma serricorne, and the rice weevil, Sitophilus oryzae. R. D. O'Brien and L. S. Wolfe discussed the principles and some of the work relating to radiation disinfestation, and P. B. Cornwell edited several original research reports and added editorial comments in a review of grain irradiation. A major problem in disinfestation of commodities by any method is the large number of insect species that may be present. Machine radiation and gamma radiation of grain each has some inherent advantages. One advantage of machine radiation that has received little attention involves the method of exposing the infested grain.
