A study was carried out to determine the relative rate of infestation of Dermestes maculatus on two different cured fish species, Oreochromis niloticus and Clarias gariepinus under laboratory conditions. All the treatments had three replicates and were arranged in a randomized complete block design. The following parameters were determined after 30 days of infestation: rate of infestation, texture, taste, weight loss and percentage economic loss. The results show significant qualitative (taste and texture) and quantitative losses of infested fish samples for both species. The values were significantly higher for C. gariepinus than O. niloticus (p<0.05). There is, therefore, an urgent need to develop appropriate measures for the control of D. maculatus infestation of cured fish so as to stem the quantum of losses experienced by farmers and processors. |