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Conrad Bérubé |
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Foreign Grain Beetle
family: cucujidae
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Foreign Grain Beetle Ahasverus advena (Waltl) The foreign grain beetle is found in both tropical and temperate regions. In Canada, it survives in protected areas in elevators and is usually found in moist, moldy grain.
The insect feeds on molds on damp grain, bread, biscuits and other farinaceous materials. In feeding on moldy grain, it may also damage the germ of the kernels if the relative humidity is over 65%. However grain injury by this pest is not severe enough to cause economic loss.
The adult beetle is brown, rounded in shape and about 2 mm long. It resembles the rusty grain beetle, but can be distinguished from it by its club-shaped antennae. The eggs are oval. The larvae are wormlike, cream-colored and reach a length of 3 mm before pupating. Little is known about the life cycle of this insect, but under laboratory conditions and a temperature of 27 degrees, the transition from egg to adult beetle takes about 3 weeks. Temperature limits for complete development are 20 to 35 degrees. The insects can only survive in moist, moldy grain and if the relative humidity is over 70%.
Although this
insect is not of economic importance, it is often mistaken for
the rusty grain beetle because of the similarity in appearance.
Drying grain to control molds will also keep the foreign grain
beetle in check. Consult your provincial agricultural representative
for full details on the control of this |
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