Maize (Zea mays L.) is Tanzania’s most important staple crop, underpinning household food security, nutrition, and rural livelihoods (Mutungi et al., 2019; Mutungi et al., 2022). It accounts for over 70% of national cereal production and serves as a primary source of calories for millions of Tanzanians (Mmasa and Mathur, 2020). Beyond consumption, maize supports income generation and national grain markets, and it plays a key role in agricultural development strategies, food security frameworks, and climate resilience agendas. Ensuring the availability and quality of maize after harvest is therefore both a production challenge and a national policy priority, closely aligned with poverty reduction, nutrition security, and the sustainable development goals.

Despite increased maize productivity, post-harvest losses remain a major constraint, particularly in smallholder systems where conventional storage methods, such as polypropylene bags, cribs, and unimproved granaries dominate (Abass et al., 2014; Kumar and Kalita, 2017). Storage insect pests are a leading cause of these losses (Mutambuki and Likhayo, 2021; Nwosu, 2018). In Tanzania, the maize weevil Sitophilus zeamais (Motschulsky) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) can reduce grain quantity by 20–30% within three to six months of storage, while the larger grain borer Prostephanus truncatus (horn) (Coleoptera: Bostrichidae), an invasive species introduced into East Africa in the late 1970s, often causes losses exceeding 30–40% (Dunstan and Magazini, 1981; Hodges et al., 1983; Hodges, 1986; Haines, 1991; Njoroge et al., 2019; Addo, 2002). Such damage also compromises grain quality, seed viability, and market value (Mesterháźy et al., 2020).

The accidental introduction of P. truncatus illustrated how invasive storage pests can rapidly spread and overwhelm local management systems (Markham et al., 1994). In a similar concern, the invasive bark beetle P. frontalis, native to Central and South America, has been associated primarily with avocado (Persea americana Mill.) seeds since its first records in the 1930s (Kirkendall, 2018). The insect bores into partially or fully exposed seeds on the ground but does not attack fruits on the tree (De Dios Ávila et al., 2021). It has also been recorded in coffee berries in Ecuador and can be laboratory-reared on cassava chips as well as maize grains (Gianoli et al., 2006; Yust, 1957; Okello et al., 1996). Pagiocerus frontalis can cause up to 44% yield loss in maize (De Dios Ávila et al., 2021), infesting cobs in the field before harvest and continuing to feed during storage (Okello et al., 1996).

The bark beetle Pagiocerus frontalis was first detected in Tanzania in December 2018, infesting stored provitamin A maize (CP 201) in Usariver, Arusha (latitude 3°21′45″ S, longitude 36°52′20″ E; altitude 1, 300–1, 500 meters above sea level). Preliminary laboratory rearing confirmed it feeds on both maize and avocado seeds and can perforate polypropylene storage bags, causing damage comparable to P. truncatus (Figure 1). These observations indicate a high risk of rapid spread through household storage and informal grain trade networks.

Current storage pest management in smallholder systems relies heavily on synthetic insecticides. While these can suppress pest populations, their effectiveness is limited by high costs, improper application, restricted access, and emerging resistance. Furthermore, pesticide use raises serious concerns about food safety, human health, and environmental contamination (Abass et al., 2014). Hermetic storage technologies, particularly Purdue Improved Crop Storage (PICS) bags, have demonstrated effectiveness against several storage pests by restricting oxygen and suppressing insect development (Baoua et al., 2014). However, adoption is uneven, and such technologies may not fully prevent damage by highly aggressive tunneling species, highlighting the need for complementary strategies such as host plant resistance.

The emergence of P. frontalis has policy and regional implications. Increased post-harvest losses threaten food availability, exacerbate price volatility, and may heighten dependence on emergency grain imports. Its regional spread could also complicate cross-border grain trade and phytosanitary regulation within East Africa. Effective early-stage management is therefore critical to prevent P. frontalis from becoming a region-wide storage pest with significant economic and food security consequences.

Host plant resistance is a cornerstone of sustainable integrated pest management (IPM) and aligns with policy goals related to climate-smart agriculture, environmental protection, and smallholder resilience. Resistant maize varieties offer a low-cost, scalable, and farmer-accessible option for reducing storage losses without additional chemical inputs (López-Castillo et al., 2018). While substantial research has addressed resistance to established storage pests such as S. zeamais and P. truncatus, resistance to P. frontalis remains poorly understood, particularly within Tanzanian widely cultivated maize varieties.

This study presents the first assessment of susceptibility among widely cultivated maize varieties in Tanzania to the newly detected storage pest P. frontalis. By generating baseline data to inform varietal selection, breeding programs, and national post-harvest loss reduction strategies, the findings contribute to early-stage management of this emerging pest. Beyond Tanzania, the results have broader regional relevance for invasive storage pest preparedness in East Africa and support global efforts to promote sustainable, pesticide-reducing approaches to post-harvest pest management.

The invasive bark beetle P. frontalis was obtained from stored provitamin A maize (CP 201) grains harvested in December 2018 in Usa River, Arusha Region, Tanzania (latitude 3°21′45″ S, longitude 36°52′20″ E; altitude 1, 300–1, 500 m above sea level). A colony was established and maintained at the Postharvest Entomology Laboratory of the Tanzania Plant Health and Pesticide Authority (TPHPA). Mixed-sex insects were reared in 2-kg glass jars containing provitamin A maize for 60 days under controlled conditions (23 ± 5°C, 65 ± 5% RH) and continuous darkness (Sakka et al., 2022) to produce sufficient numbers for experimentation. Adults emerging insects less than seven days old were collected for experimental assays to ensure physiological uniformity and consistent reproductive potential (Njoroge et al., 2019).

Clean, undamaged grains of 27 maize varieties were sourced from seed companies, farmers, and the Tanzania Agricultural Research Institute (TARI) (Table 1) and were disinfected by fumigation with aluminium phosphide tablets (56% a.i.) at a rate of 3 g m⁻³ in airtight plastic drums for 7 days, followed by aeration for 72 h to remove residual phosphine. Grain moisture content was adjusted to 12% (wet basis) and verified using the oven-dry method at 105 ± 2°C for 24 h, in accordance with ISTA (2020). To minimize within-variety variation, grains were standardized by counting and weighing, and only samples within ±5–10% of the mean grain weight for each variety sample were used in the experiments; grains smaller or larger than this range were discarded (Harden and Wood, 2017).

The experiment was conducted using a completely randomized design with 27 maize varieties and four replicates, giving a total of 108 petri dishes. Each replicate consisted of 30 grains placed in 90 × 15 mm transparent plastic Petri dishes, to which 20 mixed-sex insects (<7 days old) were added using a fine brush after collection by sieving (1-mm mesh), assuming an approximate 1:1 sex ratio (Quellhorst et al., 2020; Panagiotakis et al., 2023). The dishes were randomly positioned on laboratory shelves at 23 ± 5°C and 65 ± 5 % RH under continuous darkness (Sakka et al., 2022). Ten days after infestation, parental insects were removed, and the number of dead specimens as well as grain damage in each replicate were recorded (Mwololo, 2012; Altunç et al., 2023). Beginning 14 days after infestation, the dishes were monitored daily for the emergence of F₁ progeny. Emerging F₁ adults were not removed during the incubation period in order to quantify cumulative grain weight loss (Mwololo, 2012). Grains were incubated for a total of 65 days, after which progeny production and grain weight loss were assessed (Dobie, 1974; Tefera et al., 2011).

This study showed that Pagiocerus frontalis can cause substantial post-harvest damage across widely cultivated maize varieties in Tanzania, highlighting its potential as an emerging storage pest. Variation in grain damage among varieties suggests differences in susceptibility, consistent with previous studies showing that traits such as grain hardness, pericarp thickness, endosperm composition, amylose content, and secondary metabolite profiles can influence pest performance (Ngom et al., 2020; D’Isita et al., 2024).

TMV1 and Hybrid 513 exhibited lower grain damage than Staha and Pioneer 3253, indicating relative differences in susceptibility among varieties. Similar patterns have been observed for other storage pests, such as Sitophilus zeamais, where certain maize genotypes consistently show reduced progeny emergence, grain damage, and weight loss (Marcos et al., 2025). These differences have been attributed to grain physical and chemical characteristics. Although P. frontalis and S. zeamais differ biologically, the results support the general principle that maize genotype can influence pest performance in controlled assays.

Adult mortality also varied among varieties, though overall levels were low and did not consistently correspond with patterns of grain damage. While the mechanisms were not directly investigated in this study, previous research suggests that varietal traits, such as secondary metabolites, may affect adult feeding efficiency or survival (Carneiro et al., 2025). Further mechanistic studies, including biochemical analyses or choice tests, are required to confirm these effects.

No significant differences were detected among maize varieties in progeny production or development time, indicating that once oviposition occurred, larval and pupal development proceeded similarly across varieties. Similar findings have been reported for other storage pests, such as Sitophilus zeamais, where varietal differences in progeny emergence and development were often minimal once eggs were laid, suggesting that post-oviposition development may be less influenced by maize genotype (Dobie, 1974; Haines, 1990). These results suggest that observed differences in overall susceptibility are more likely driven by factors affecting adult feeding and oviposition rather than larval performance.

Despite significant differences in grain damage among maize varieties, cumulative grain weight loss did not differ significantly. Similar trends have been reported in studies on stored-maize pests such as Sitophilus zeamais, where differences in kernel damage among varieties were not always accompanied by proportional differences in total weight loss over time (Kossou et al., 1993; Tefera et al., 2011). This pattern has been attributed to continued feeding and reproduction by insects that successfully establish on the grain, which can compensate for initial reductions in feeding on less susceptible varieties. Factors such as the duration of adult exposure, the ability of Pagiocerus frontalis to sustain feeding after establishment, and the generally limited physical or biochemical defenses of stored grain likely contributed to this outcome. These findings suggest that although some maize varieties may exhibit reduced susceptibility under controlled conditions, host-plant traits alone may not be sufficient to substantially limit overall quantitative losses during storage, highlighting the importance of integrated pest management strategies.

The close similarity between P. frontalis and P. truncatus in damage patterns, characterized by extensive endosperm consumption, multiple exit holes, and perforation of storage bags raises concerns for maize storage systems in Africa. The historical spread of P. truncatus following its introduction in the late 1970s and the severe losses that followed (Hodges et al., 1996; Quellhorst et al., 2024) highlight the urgency of proactive management of P. frontalis.

From an integrated pest management (IPM) perspective, these findings indicate that host-plant traits alone are unlikely to provide adequate control of Pagiocerus frontalis. Similar conclusions have been reported for other major stored-grain pests, including Sitophilus zeamais and Prostephanus truncatus, where varietal resistance reduced early damage but did not consistently prevent population buildup during storage (Kossou et al., 1993; Tefera et al., 2011; Abass et al., 2018). Varieties showing preliminary signs of lower susceptibility, such as TMV1, may contribute to reduced initial damage; however, effective management typically relies on integrating multiple control measures. Studies have demonstrated that improved storage hygiene, hermetic storage technologies, and complementary biological or selective chemical controls can substantially reduce pest populations and grain losses when used together (De Groote et al., 2013; Baoua et al., 2014). Such integrated approaches are therefore likely to be necessary for managing P. frontalis under smallholder storage conditions.

This study provides the first comprehensive evaluation of Tanzanian maize varieties in response to infestation by the invasive bark beetle Pagiocerus frontalis. Although significant varietal differences were detected in grain damage and adult mortality, all tested varieties were susceptible, and none expressed resistance strong enough to disrupt progeny development or reduce cumulative grain weight loss.

The observed patterns indicate that resistance in the tested germplasm is partial and likely mediated through physical or biochemical grain traits that reduce feeding efficiency rather than directly suppress survival or reproduction. However, these effects were insufficient to limit population buildup or economic losses, confirming that host-plant resistance alone cannot provide effective control of P. frontalis under tropical storage conditions.

Effective management of P. frontalis will therefore require integrated pest management approaches that combine moderately tolerant varieties with improved storage infrastructure, particularly hermetic storage systems, alongside complementary biological or selective chemical controls. Strengthening early detection, containment, and surveillance efforts is essential to prevent widespread establishment. Future breeding programs should prioritize resistance-associated traits such as increased grain hardness and elevated phenolic content to support the development of durable resistance and safeguard maize-based food security in Tanzania and across sub-Saharan Africa.

Future research should expand resistance screening and breeding efforts by evaluating both local and improved maize germplasm for traits associated with reduced susceptibility to Pagiocerus frontalis, including grain hardness, pericarp thickness, and potential biochemical defenses such as phenolic compounds. Further studies should also investigate integrated management strategies under controlled and on-farm conditions, combining maize varieties showing relatively lower damage with improved storage technologies (e.g., hermetic systems) and complementary control options to better understand their combined effects on pest survival, reproduction, and grain loss. In addition, long-term ecological studies are needed to monitor the distribution, population dynamics, and competitive interactions of P. frontalis with other major storage pests. Research should also assess effective extension approaches for early detection and post-harvest handling practices that limit infestation and reinfestation. Finally, broader studies examining the role of P. frontalis within national post-harvest systems would help inform evidence-based strategies for strengthening maize storage resilience and food security.