Warehouse Pirate Bug

Description:
The adults are 0.1 inches long. This beneficial insect is a general predator that is commonly found in grain storages. The nymphs and adults of this beneficial insect prey on eggs, larvae, and pupae of many species of grain insects, such as the red and confused flour beetle, Indian meal moth and sawtoothed grain beetle. Its generation time is about 16 days at 90 degrees F. Adult female longevity is five to six weeks. The female produces approximately 150 eggs during her lifetime.

Damage:
The Pirate Bug is a beneficial insect that is often found in stored corn, but is not injurious to stored grain.

Foreign Grain Beetle

Description:
The adults are camel-brown and 0.1 inches long. It is similar to the sawtoothed beetle, but can be distinguished by the lack of projections on the middle body segment. Larvae are white to grayish white.

Damage:
This insect is primarily a mold and fungus eater. Its presence may indicate high grain moisture conditions. This insect is a minor pest of stored grain.

Rusty and Flat Grain Beetles

Description:
The adults are flattened and red brownish in color and 1/12 inch long. The antennae are relatively long, sometimes as long as the body. The flat and rusty grain beetle look very similar. They cause similar amounts of damage and their biology is similar, so it is not necessary to distinguish between them.

Damage:
The eggs are deposited on the grain. After hatching the larvae usually feed in the germ layer of the wheat kernel. This insect does not cause obvious feeding damage to grain that the weevils and lesser grain borers do. This insect does not require broken kernels or fine material to survive but will reproduce faster when it is present. It is the most common insect pest of farm-stored wheat and frequently builds up to high numbers.

Sawtoothed Grain Beetle

Description:
The adults are very flat, narrow, dark brown in color and 0.1 inch long. They are recognized by the sawtooth projections on the sides of the middle segment. Larvae are white to pale yellow and 0.1 inch at maturity. They are similar to the merchant grain beetle in appearance and habits. In the sawtoothed grain beetle the temple region behind the eye is greater than 1/2 the eye diameter, in the merchant grain beetle the space behind the eye is less than 1/2 the eye diameter.

Damage:
The eggs are deposited on cracks in grain kernels. Adults and larvae require fine material to survive and cannot feed on whole kernels. They can build up to high numbers in stored grain. The merchant grain beetle is rarely a pest of stored grain. The sawtooth grain beetle is a common pest.

Flour Beetles

Description:
The adults of both the red and confused flour beetle are 0.1 inch long and red in color. The red flour beetle is found much more frequently in stored wheat than the confused flour beetle. The last 3 antennal segments of the red flour beetle are abruptly larger, whereas they gradually increase in size in the confused flour beetle. Larvae are 3/16 inch and have two horny projections on the end of the abdomen.

Damage:
The adults reproduce faster when some fine material is present in the grain. They can grow rapidly on undamaged grain, especially if the moisture is above 12%. Grain with large numbers of these insects has a pungent, undesirable odor. This insect is a fairly common pest of stored wheat.

CIGARETTE BEETLE (Lasioderma serricorne)

This destructive insect is a serious pest of dried plant material. It can also cause serious damage to books. The Cigarette beetle is a small brown beetle measuring 2-3 mm in length. The Cigarette beetle is closely related to the Drugstore beetle which can cause difficulty in identification. However, with some training they can be distinguished easily. The Cigarette beetle has wings covered in small hairs whereas the Drugstore beetle's wings have rows of punctations.

Food: This beetle feeds on a great diversity of edible and non edible products. They may infest stored food products such as spices, rice, dry pet foods, as well as seeds, pharmaceuticals, and books among many other materials. It is especially important as a pest of tobacco products.

Life Cycle: Females lay the eggs in the larval food and hatch in 6 to 10 days. The larval period lasts 5 to 10 weeks. The pupal period lasts 2 to 3 weeks. The entire life cycle takes about 10 to 12 weeks. Adults live up to a month.

Trap Use and Placement: There are three trap designs available for this beetle. No Survivor traps are hung in areas where foods are stored, while the Serrico trap and Tobacco Beetle Trap can be hung along a wall or placed on shelves with stored food or on the floor in these areas. These traps should be protected from sunlight and wind during use.

Food: This insect is also a common pest of dried plant matter. It can cause serious damage to books and preserved plant material.

Life Cycle: Females lay the eggs one-by-one in the larval food source. The larval period lasts from four to five months. The cocoon lasts 12 to 18 days. The complete life cycle takes about seven months.

Trap use and Placement: This trap is currently unavailable. Check with Insects Limited for future availability.

LARDER BEETLE( Dermestes lardarius)
The adult is a dark brown to black beetle, 7 to 9 mm in length, with a pale yellow six spotted band on the back of the abdomen. The undersurface as well as the legs are covered with fine yellow hairs.
Food: Ham, bacon, meats, cheese, dried pet foods, dried museum specimens of all kinds, stored tobacco, dried fish, and all hides. The larvae seem to prefer fatty portions of meat rather than lean muscular portions.

Life Cycle: Larder beetle females lay 100 - 175 eggs. These eggs will hatch in 12 days or less. The larvae will eat constantly until it molts. It will molt 5 - 6 times before pupating. Often times the larvae will burrow into meat or even wood before it pupates. The complete life cycle may be completed with 40 - 50 days.