Sawtoothed Grain Beetle

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Sawtoothed Grain Beetle

      1. Sawtoothed Grain Beetle

      General Description

      ·  The adult is 3 mm long and 1 mm wide. There are six waw-like projections on each side of the thorax.

      ·  The adult is unable to fly.

      ·  The larva is 4-5 mm long, narrow in body form, and it is yellowish white.  Each of its abdominal segments bears a yellowish plate on the top side.

      · Pupa is 4 mm long, yellow with toothy protrusions on the edges of the body.

       

      Credit: Udo Schmidt

       

      Life Cycle and Common Characteristics

      • The adult spends the winter hibernation on the stored products or in the cracks of the walls of the stores.
      • The female lays eggs (total 45-285 shiny eggs) in small masses in crevices in the food supply, although they are also laid freely in flour.
      • The female does not lay eggs below 24°C (the optimum is 30°C).
      • Egg incubation is 5-15 days.
      • The larva feeds on stored products and molts 2-4 times.
      • The larva is fully developed from 2-10 weeks.
        • The larva pupates and the pupal stage takes about 1-2 weeks.
      • The generation period is 3-4 weeks.
      • The insect has several generations a year.

       

      Damage and Economic Implications

      • The larva and the adult insect feed on stored and crushed grain and flour (flour, pasta, chocolate, tobacco, hazelnuts, pistachios).
      • The larvae damage the products and pollute them with their waste.