True or False: Keeping the stored product at or below a moisture content of 30 percent is necessary to prevent mite species development.

The statement that keeping the stored product at or below a moisture content of 30 percent is necessary to prevent mite species development is false. While controlling moisture levels is an important factor in preventing pest infestations in stored products, the specific threshold for moisture content can vary based on different mite species. Many species of mites thrive in environments with moisture levels above certain thresholds, but the exact moisture content that will inhibit their growth can differ. Some species can develop in conditions with moisture content much higher or lower than 30 percent.

Thus, while maintaining low moisture levels is a good practice for pest management, saying that 30 percent is a definitive cutoff fails to consider the specifics of different mite species and their respective requirements for growth and reproduction. Therefore, the assertion that it is necessary to maintain products at or below this level to prevent development is not universally true.