Sawtooth Grain Beetle

Information on this page is derived from public domain documents published by the federal government of canada, the provincial government of British Columbia and information contributed on electronic discussion groups. Please bear in mind that any pesticides mentioned in these pages may no longer be recommended or registered for the indicated use — check with your local pesticide officer or regional agrologist for current info (you can use the provincial directory on the internet to search for those job titles or call Enquiry bc at 1 800 663-7867 for assistance). It is recommended that you use a search engine using the common name and/or scientific name of the organism(s) below, together with the name of your province, to find biology and management information relevant to your local conditions. If you choose to use chemical controls remember to always follow pesticide label instructions! insects of economic importance in Canada and British Columbia

family: cucujidae
species: oryzaephilus surinamensis
common names: sawtooth grain beetle
hosts: grains, nuts
notes:

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Insect Identification Sheet No. 81

Sawtooth Grain Beetle

Oryzaephilus surinamensis (L.)

The adult is dark brown, slender and about 3 mm long, with six toothed projections on each side of the thorax. The female lays about 200-285 eggs over a 3-month period. Most of these hatch when temperatures are from 20 to 37.5 degrees, but develop most rapidly at about 32 degrees. Once hatched, the larvae complete their development in about 26 days. However, this can range from 15 to 46 days, depending on food and humidity, they develop fastest at 70% relative humidity. The pupal stage lasts about 10 days.

Control:

Heat infested food in the oven at 90 degrees for 1 to 2 hours to kill all stages of the insect, then discard it, Otherwise, during warm weather, adults may reenter the building. Remove un-infected foods and other items from shelves and drawers, then vacuum surfaces, crevices, grooves, slider rails, breadboards and floor around baseboards, behind stoves and refrigerators, and other places where crumbs accumulate. Wash these areas with a strong detergent. Treat with an approved household insecticide. Follow label directions and observe precautions; do not treat surfaces that come in direct contact with food. A second treatment may be necessary after 3 weeks. Consult your provincial Department of Agriculture for further control recommendations.