Assessment of damage to apparently good quality palm kernels by test insect species under laboratory conditions revealed that all the cultures had other pest species due to hidden infestation. The total damage caused by the insects to palm kernels in the experimental jars ranged from 17.5 to 30.9% at the end of a 1-yr storage period. With the exception of test species, Oryzaephilus mercator (Fauv.) and Tribolium castaneum (Herbst) which were predominant in cultures in which they were formally introduced, the other cultures were found to be dominated by O. mercator, T. castaneum, Lasioderma serricorne (F.) and Cryptolestes ferrugineus (Steph.). Thus the damage reported above was principally due to these four species. Symptoms of damage to palm kernels by O. mercator; T. castaneum and L. serricorne have been given for the first time and the pest status of the beetle pests associated with stored palm kernel assessed relative to damage caused.
