Salting of Fish as a Means of Reducing Damage by Dermestes maculatus (Coleoptera: Demerstidae)
DOI:10.36108/NJE/6991/31.0190
O.J. AGBOLAGBA, V.A. OKONJI, AND D.A. ENOBAKHARE
ABSTRACT
The damage by the beetle Dermestes maculatus on salted and unsalted fish species namely Tilapia galilae, Chrysichthys nigrodigitatus, Clarias garieopinus and Decaptera species was investigated in Benin, Nigeria.There was a significant difference between the attack of D. maculatus on the salted and unsalted fish species (P>O.05). The beetle affected scaleless fish more than scaly fishes. Beetles on the salted fish live for about 12±2 days while the longevity for those in the unsalted samples was 40±2 days. It is suggested that fishes be salted before smoking or drying since this reduces the attack of D.
maculatus.