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Stored Product Pests:
Confused Flour Beetle | Drugstore Beetle | Indian Meal Moth | Rice Weevil | Saw-toothed Grain Beetle
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Common name: |
Latin name: |
Class: |
Order: |
Family: |
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Saw-toothed Grain Beetle |
Oryzaephilus Surinamensis (Linnaeus) |
Insecta |
Coleoptera |
Curculionidae |
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Size: |
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Adult is 1/8 inch (2.5-3 mm) long; mature larva less than 1/8 inch (3 mm) long. |
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Characteristics: |
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Named for the row of six saw-like projections along each side of prothorax. Long and narrow, but flattened from top to bottom. Length of region directly behind eye is more than half the vertical diameter of eye. Wings are present, developed, but this insect is not observed flying. Mature larva is long and fairly smooth, with 3 segmented antennae (2nd segment is longest, 3rd segment very small). |
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Color: |
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Adult is light to dark brown. Mature larva is yellowish white. |
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Where Found: |
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Throughout the world. |
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Comparison: |
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Merchant, Foreign, and Square Necked Grain Beetles are very similar to the Saw-Toothed Grain Beetle. Other small dark beetles do not have 6 saw-like teeth on each side of thorax. |
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Habitat: |
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Home is food. Food is home. |
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Food: |
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Foodstuffs; including grains, cereals, bread, pasta products, dried meat, dried fruits and nuts, sugar, chocolate, candy, tobacco products and drugs. |
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Biology: |
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Females lay shiny white eggs singly or in small clusters in crevices in food material during a 2-5 month period. Can lay up to 285 eggs. Depending on temperature, eggs hatch in 3-17 days. Larvae go through 3 molts, and make a cocoon using food particles glued together with a sticky substance from its mouth. Cocoon hangs by its rear end from a solid object. Warm temperatures (86-95 degrees F/30-35 C) and 70%+ relative humidity may result in as many as 6-7 generations per year. Adults live about 6-10 months, but may live longer than 3 years. |
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Damage: |
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Destruction of stored grain materials in homes and in grocery stores. |
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Invasion: |
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Enters food containers and poorly sealed packaging through very small cracks. |
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Control: |
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When controlling stored product pests, the following six-step process should be implemented: 1) Prevention- Inspect incoming products. Reduce entry points that insects may be using to enter the structure. 2) Good Sanitation- Eliminate spilled or damaged products. Completely empty storage areas and check all products carefully for signs of infestation. Vacuum up any spilled products, especially in cracks and crevices where spilled products can accumulate. 3) Proper Storage- Store products in entry-proof containers. Eliminate cardboard containers or paper containers that are easier to penetrate by larva or adult stages of insects. 4) Stock Rotation- Do not forget old products in the back of storage areas. Old products are subject to attack because of sitting undisturbed, possibly damaged. 5) Ventilation- Reduction of moisture content in stored products is important. Many stored product pests require high humidity conditions to survive. 6) Control- Treatment of prepared pantry storage areas is required due to the habits of some stored product pests that pupate away from the infested products. Summary- Finding and eliminating the source is the best way to achieve long-term control. When using any pesticide, be sure it is registered for the target pest/location. Read the entire label prior to use. Follow all label directions, restrictions, and precautions. |
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