STORED GRAIN :: SECONDARY STORAGE PEST :: FLAT GRAIN BEETLE

18. Flat grain beetle: Cryptolestes minutus (Cucujidae: Coleoptera)

Bionomics : It is smallest among the stored grain insect pests. It is light to dark reddish brown beetle measuring 1.5 mm to 2.0 mm. It lays white eggs loosely in flour, grain or crevices. The egg period is 5 days. The larva is cigar like yellowish white with two reddish brown spots at anal segment. The larval period is 21 days. It pupates in a gelatinous cocoon. The life cycle is completed in 42 days.
Damage symptoms : Both grubs and adults feed on broken grains or on milled products. In case of heavy infestation it cause heating in grain and flour. It attacks rice, maize, wheat with excessive broken, different flours, ground nut particularly with high moistures and mouldy grains.