Foreign Grain Beetle
IdentificationThe adult Foreign Grain Beetle is light brown and is about 2 mm long. They are similar in appearance to the saw-tooth grain beetle, but they lack the tooth-like projections and are somewhat broader. Larvae are initially white and gradually darken as they mature. They rarely grow larger than 3 mm and have no forked process at the tip of the abdomen.
DescriptionIt is frequently associated with hot spots in farm-stored grain. Although primarily a fungivorous species. The presence of this insect in farm-stored grain is taken as a warning that the grain is beginning to spoil and become moldy. The adults are long lived, fly well and run very rapidly. This species occurs on a wide variety of foodstuffs, including grains, cereal products, oilseeds and their products, dried fruit, and spices. It is a scavenger that feeds on molds, dead insects, and damaged foods. On cereal grains, the embryo is a suitable food material. However, when found in large numbers they are probably feeding on molds present in the food. Adult females begin laying eggs around 3 - 4 days after emerging. Mated males and females have an average lifespan of 159 and 208 days, respectively. Eggs, which are laid singly or in clusters of two or three, hatch in 4 - 5 days. Larval development is completed in 11 - 19 days. When ready to pupate, the larva constructs a chamber of food particles cemented together. Pupation occurs after a prepupal period of 1 - 2 days, and adults emerge 3 - 5 days later.