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STORED GRAIN :: SECONDARY STORAGE PEST :: SAW TOOTHED GRAIN BEETLE

 


16. Saw toothed grain beetle:Oryzaephilus surinamensis (Cucujidae: Coleoptera)
Bionomics : It is slender, dark, narrow, flattened beetle having a row of saw like sharp teeth on each side of the prothorax. The antenna is clubbed and elytra cover abdomen completely. It lays 300 whitish eggs loosely in cracks of storage receptacles of godown. The eggs period is 3 -17 days. The larva is slender, pale cream in colour with to slightly darken patches on each segment. The larval period is 14- 20 days. It pupates in a protective cocoon like covering with sticky secretion. The pupal period is 7-21 days.

Damage symptoms : It feed on grains, dried fruits etc by scarving of grain surface or burrowing holes in them. It attacks rice, wheat, maize, cereal products, oil seeds and dry fruits.