Stored product mites (Acari: Astigmata) infesting food in various types of packaging
From 2008 to 2014, stored product mites have been reported from prepackaged dried food on the market in the Czech Republic. The infestation was by Carpoglyphus lactis (L.) in dried fruits and Tyrophagus putrescentiae (Schrank) in dog feed. The infestation is presumably caused by poor protection of the packages. We compared various packaging methods for their resistance to mites using dried apricots and dog feed in laboratory experiments. The trial packages included nine different plastic films, monofilm, duplex and triplex, and one type of plastic cup (ten replicates per packaging type). All packaging materials are available on the Czech market for dried food products. The samples of dried food were professionally packed in a factory and packaged dried apricots were exposed to C. lactis and dog food to T. putrescentiae. After 3 months of exposure, the infestation and mite density of the prepackaged food was assessed. Mites were found to infest six types of packages. Of the packaging types with mites, 1–5 samples were infested and the maximum abundance was 1,900 mites g−1 of dried food. Mites entered the prepackaged food by faulty sealing. Inadequate sealing is suggested to be the major cause of the emerged infestation of dried food.
Rapid determination of the effectiveness of insect resistant packaging
A technique was developed to evaluate the usefulness of odour barriers and to determine the effect of package content in consumer size packages on resistance to infestation by insects. Female Plodia interpunctella (Hubner) could distinguish sealed packets containing food from non-food items as a suitable site for oviposition. Utilization ofthis technique will reduce the time needed to evaluate new materials for use in insect resistant packaging.
Part IX
The Problem.-This investigation attempted to discover what effect the shortening of the class period for home economics had on the skills, knowledge, habits, and appreciations of students in food preparation classes. Data, and Technique of Investiga,tion.-Data were obtained from the following sources: 1. An intensive study of six ninth-grade foods classes in Minneapolis, Minnesota, during an eight-week period in 1930. _