Insufficient storage practices and frequent infestations of insect pests pose significant obstacles to sesame production and storage, adversely affecting the quality and quantity of seeds. This forces farmers and traders to sell their crops at lower prices immediately after threshing to avoid market rejection caused by pests and mold damage during storage. The objective of this study was to investigate the insect species dynamics and the losses of on-farm-stored sesame seeds during the 2017- 2018 production year. Sesame seed samples obtained from randomly selected 431farm households in five districts were analyzed to determine the insect species present, insect density, seed weight loss, seed damage, germination percentage, and dockage using R software version 4.2.2. Biophysical parameters such as inter-granular temperature, seed moisture, and relative humidity were also recorded. Furthermore, interviews were conducted with the 431 farm households to gather information on their seed storage methods, practices for controlling insect pests, and the varieties of sesame they produce and store. The findings revealed the presence of 13 arthropod species from four orders (Coleoptera, Hemiptera, Hymenoptera, and Lepidoptera) which belongs to eight families (Tenebrionidae, Silvanidae, Bostrichidae, Curculionidae, Carabidae, Coreidae, Formicidae, and Pyralidae) in the stored sesame seeds at the study site. The most prevalent species was the flour beetle (Tribolium spp.), accounting for 44.26% of the infestation, followed by the rice moth, lesser grain borer, and rice weevil, which constituted 28.2%, 15.72%, and 4.88% of the infestation, respectively. The farmers grew and stored nine different cultivars along with one improved sesame variety called setit-1. On average, there was a 1.97% loss in seed weight, with insect pests causing damage to 8.3% of the seeds. The study districts exhibited an average of 3.79 insects per kilogram of sesame seeds, and the seeds showed a mean germination rate of 77%, which was significantly influenced by the extent of insect damage. The study underscores the significant challenges faced by sesame production and storage in Ethiopia due to inadequate storage practices and infestation by insect pests, resulting in diminished seed quality and quantity. To mitigate the losses incurred from storing sesame on farms, effective measures should be implemented, including improved storage practices and efficient pest control methods.

储存不当、虫害频繁发生，给芝麻生产和储存带来重大障碍，对种子的质量和数量产生不利影响。这迫使农民和贸易商在脱粒后立即以较低的价格出售农作物，以避免储存过程中因虫害和霉菌损坏而导致市场拒绝。本研究的目的是调查 2017-2018 生产年度昆虫物种动态和农场储存芝麻的损失。使用 R 软件 4.2.2 版对随机抽取的 5 个区的 431 个农户采集的芝麻样品进行分析，以确定存在的昆虫种类、昆虫密度、种子失重、种子损伤、发芽率和断尾情况。还记录了粒间温度、种子水分和相对湿度等生物物理参数。此外，还对 431 户农户进行了访谈，了解其种子储存方法、病虫害防治措施以及生产和储存的芝麻品种等信息。结果表明，贮藏芝麻中含有鞘翅目、半翅目、膜翅目、鳞翅目等8科（拟甲虫科、林甲科、斑甲虫科、象甲科、步甲科、甲科、蚁科、螟虫科）4目13种节肢动物。在研究地点。最常见的种类是谷盗（Tribolium spp.），占侵扰的44.26%，其次是稻蛾、二化螟和稻象甲，分别占侵扰的28.2%、15.72%和4.88%。 ， 分别。农民们种植并储存了九个不同的品种以及一种名为 setit-1 的改良芝麻品种。平均而言，种子重量损失了 1.97%，其中 8.3% 的种子因虫害而受损。研究区每公斤芝麻平均有3.79只昆虫，种子平均发芽率为77%，受虫害程度影响显着。该研究强调了埃塞俄比亚芝麻生产和储存面临的重大挑战，原因是储存方法不当和虫害侵扰，导致种子质量和数量下降。为了减少农场储存芝麻造成的损失，应采取有效措施，包括改进储存方法和有效的病虫害防治方法。