Pantry Pests

The Angoumois grain moth (Sitotroga cerealella) is a species of the Gelechiidae moth family, commonly referred to as the "rice grain moth". It is most abundant in the temperate or tropical climates of India, China, South Africa, Indonesia, Malaysia, Japan, Egypt, and Nigeria, with its location of origin being currently unknown. It is most commonly associated as a pest of field and stored cereal grains as they burrow within the kernel grains of crop plants, rendering them unusable for human consumption. By laying eggs between the grains themselves and hatching at a later time, often during the processing, transportation, or storage stages, the moth can be transported to households or countries presently free of Angoumois grain moth infestations.

Tenebroides mauritanicus, commonly known as the Cadelle, is a cosmopolitan and common pest in storehouses and granaries. Adults and larvae feed on grain and grain products, prey upon other insects infesting grain, and bore into wood. They typically pupate in the wood cavities that they make. It is one of the longest-lived insects that attacks stored grain and is very destructive and easily dispersed. It is also one of the largest (body length 10 mm.)

The larvae were nicknamed "bargemen" by sailors because they frequently infested ships' biscuits and were noticed when they would crawl out of the biscuits and onto the "barge", a small tub used to hold biscuits on the mess table.

Cryptolestes pusillus is a species of lined flat bark beetle native to Europe. It is also known as the Flat Grain Beetle. It feeds on grain products.

The wheat weevil (Sitophilus granarius), also known as the grain weevil or granary weevil, is an insect that feeds on cereal grains, and is a common pest in many places. It can cause significant damage to harvested stored grains and may drastically decrease crop yields. The females lay many eggs and the larvae eat the inside of the grain kernels.

The Indianmeal Moth (Plodia interpunctella), also spelled Indian Meal Moth and Indian-Meal Moth, is a pyraloid moth of the family Pyralidae. Alternative common names are Weevil Moth, Pantry Moth, Flour Moth or Grain Moth. The Almond Moth (Cadra cautella) and the Raisin Moth (Cadra figulilella) are commonly confused with the Indian-Meal Moth due to similar food sources and appearance. The species was named for feeding on Indian meal or cornmeal, and does not occur natively in India. It is also not to be confused with the Mediterranean Flour Moth (Ephestia kuehniella), another common pest of stored grains.

The Lesser Grain Borer is a cosmopolitan pest of a wide variety of food. It is a small, (1/8” long (3 mm)) reddish-brown to black-brown beetle. The overall shape of the body is slim and cylindrical. The hood shaped rounded neck shield extends over the head hiding it. Pits on the shield become gradually smaller towards the rear. The last three segments of the antennae form a loose club. Adults can fly. Lesser Grain Borers feed on a variety of foods, mainly cereals, but also include flour, macaroni, beans, chick-peas, dried potato, edible bulbs, lentils, herbs, and wood in their diet. Preferred grains include wheat, rye, corn, rice, and millet. Oilseeds and spices are not suitable for larval development.

Red and Confused Flour Beetles attack stored grain products such as flour, cereals, meal, crackers, beans, spices, pasta, cake mix, dried pet food, dried flowers, chocolate, nuts, seeds, and even dried museum specimens (Via 1999, Weston and Rattlingourd 2000). These beetles have chewing mouthparts but do not bite or sting. The red flour beetle may elicit an allergic response (Alanko et al. 2000) but is not known to spread disease and does not feed on or damage the structure of a home or furniture. These beetles are two of the most important pests of stored products in the home and grocery stores. The confused flour beetle apparently received this name due to confusion over its identity as it is so similar to the red flour beetle at first glance.

Rice Weevils are usually found in grain storage facilities or processing plants, infesting wheat, oats, rye, barley, rice, and corn. Although not often found in the home, they are sometimes found infesting beans, birdseed, sunflower seeds, dried corn, and to a lesser degree macaroni and spaghetti. Rice Weevils do not bite, nor do they damage wood or furniture.  Adult Weevils are about 3/32 to 1/8 inch long (2-3mm). The adult Rice Weevil is a dull reddish-brown to black with round or irregularly shaped pits on the thorax and four light reddish or yellowish spots on the elytra (wing covers). The adult weevil can fly and is attracted to lights. The larval stage is legless, humpbacked, white to creamy white, with a small tan head. The maize weevil is very similar to the Rice Weevil but larger. 

The adult Saw Toothed Grain Beetle is small (1/10 inch long), very flattened, and brown with the segment just behind the head (pronotum) having characteristic “sawtoothed” outer margins, bearing six “teeth” on each side.

The beetle is one of the most commonly encountered stored product pests and is widespread within the food industry and can be found in food manufacturing, storage, and retail facilities, as well as in-home pantries.  Prefers damaged or processed grain to establish in significant numbers. Adults can live for several months, females laying 300 to 400 eggs loosely throughout the grain.  White larvae feed and develop externally.