Sitophilus oryzae or rice weevil is one of the most destructive pests of stored grains the world over, causing large losses. The head has a pair of antennae and a prolonged snout. The granary weevil is brown or black and does not have functional hind wings.
The hind wings functions as flight wings. The 5 mm long adults perforate the grain to lay one egg. Each female may lay from 300 to 400 eggs that hatch 5-15 days later.
The time from egg to adult is only 35 to 40 days; the larva and pupa remain inside the kernel. The adult chews out of the kernel, leaving behind the characteristics weevil damage.
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| Rice weevil |
The adults of rice weevils live from 6 to 8 months and so damage is substantial, of control measures are not put in place. The adult rarely flies, prefers smaller grains and it feeding causes irregular shaped holes.
Sitophilus oryzae L
