INTRODUCTION Wheat ( spp.) is the most important among all cereal crops used for food grain in the world (Iftikhar  ., 2004). In Nigeria, the crop is grown almost entirely under irrigation in the Northern areas during the harmattan period (November – February) when the region experiences low night temperatures (10 – 25°C) suitable for the growth of the crop (Falaki   2009). The crop is grown on an area of 215,000 ha with an average yield of 1250 kg/ha. The current annual production is 50,000 – 60,000 metric tons, while the estimated local demand is 3.7 million metric tons. As a result, Nigeria spends ₦635 billion ($3.91billion) annually on importation of wheat (Magaji  ., 2012). The locally harvested wheat, therefore, must be protected and judiciously utilized. Insects are the major pests of cereal grains and grain products during storage (Obeng8 Ofori, 2007). Damage caused by insects affects the quality, the quantity and the commercial value of the products. Many pests of stored products belong to the order Coleoptera and one of the most destructive secondary insect pests of durable stored products is the red flour beetle,  . It feeds on a wide range of durable stored products including cereals, cereal products and other high value produce such as cocoa beans and dried fruits (Adarkwah  ., 2010). Journal of Applied Agricultural Research 2014, 6(1): 2098217 ISSN 20068750X © Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria, 2014 CONTROL OF THE RED FLOUR BEETLE   (HERBST) (COLEOPTERA: TENEBRIONIDAE) IN THREE ELITE WHEAT VARIETIES USING DIATOMACEOUS EARTH (PROTECT8IT®) *Kabir, B. G. J. and I. M. Abdullahi Department of Crop Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Maiduguri, P. M. B. 1069, Maiduguri, Nigeria *bgkabir@yahoo.com; +234 802 6798714 _______________________________________________________________________ ABSTRACT Laboratory studies were conducted to evaluate the insecticidal efficacy of diatomaceous earth 8 Protect8It® against the red flour beetle   (Herbst) in three wheat varieties under ambient laboratory conditions (25834°C and 35 – 65% RH). Each wheat variety was treated with four dose rates (250, 500, 750 and 1000 mg/kg) of Protect8It® and untreated wheat served as control. Thirty adult insects were bioassayed on 50 g grain sample with three replications. Adult mortality was assessed after 7, 14 and 21 days exposure intervals and progeny production was assessed after 45 days. Significant differences in adult mortality were noted between dose rates and exposure intervals. Complete adult mortality was recorded at 500 and 250 mg/kg after 14 and 21 days exposure intervals, respectively. In all varieties and all dose rates no adult survived 21 days of exposure. DE treatment at ≤ 500 mg caused 95898% progeny suppression, while complete progeny suppression was achieved at ≥ 750 mg/kg. Wheat variety had no effect on DE efficacy. These results show that local strain of   could be controlled using Protect8It® at 750 mg/kg on any of the three varieties. Keywords: Diatomaceous earth (DE),  , strain, elite wheat variety, insect pest control ________________________________________________________________________ 209