Pests of stored grains

Insect infestation occurs in stored grains and grains products to variable extent depending upon the storage conditions. Certain beetles and moths are notorious stored-food pests in home, as are some mites. Most food products are contaminated by insects and insect parts to some degree.

Most pests are imported into the house with foodstuffs already infested, if only the egg is present, it will not be obvious that the food is infested.

The granary weevils is one of the oldest known insect pests, is a universal feeder upon grains, and is cosmopolitan, having been carried by commerce to all parts of the world. It prefers a temperate climate and is more frequently found in the Northern States than in the South.

Larvae hatch from eggs, feed and develop and adults emerge in the product. If the infested food is not put into sealed containers after purchase other food in the kitchen or pantry may become infested.

Pests can bore through wrappers or cardboard containers, providing entry for other pests. Adults of some species feed in the same food that the eggs were laid in; others leave the food to pupate somewhere in cupboard or crevices in walls.

Life cycles of stored products pests vary, but management and control of these pests is about the same for all species.

The losses of nutritional compounds are proportional to the extent of insect infestation, nature of insect feeding and distribution of nutritional chemicals in different seed components.
Pests of stored grains