Insects and mites in stored grain

Discover the insect and mite species that are commonly found in stored grain. Identify the ones that damage grain directly and indirectly (mould or hygiene issues), as well as the most common non-damaging species.

Download resource
Insects and Mites in stored grain
A sign of suboptimal storage conditions, the presence of live insects and mites is unacceptable to processors and can result in damage to grain. To check for insects, sieve representative samples (typically using a 2mm mesh) and inspect the material thoroughly.

The images below show the most common species (over 50 species may occur in grain stores). 

Primary pest: Grain-damaging species

Saw-toothed grain beetle

Oryzaephilus surinamensis

Rust-red grain beetle

Cryptolestes ferrugineus

Grain weevil

Sitophilus granarius

Foreign grain beetle

Ahasverus advena

Saw-toothed grain beetle on some grain Crown Copyright
Rust-red grain beetle on some grain Crown Copyright
Grain weevil on some grain Crown Copyright
Foreign grain beetle on some grain Crown Copyright

Flour mite

Acarus siro

Cosmopolitan food mite

Lepidoglyphus destructor

Lesser grain borer

Rhyzopertha dominica

Flour mites on some grain Crown Copyright
Cosmopolitan food mites on some grain Crown Copyright
Lesser grain borer on some grain Crown Copyright

Secondary pest: Mould or hygiene-related species

Brown house moth

Hofmannophila pseudospretella

White-shouldered house moth

Endrosis sarcitrella

Hairy fungus beetle

Typhaea stercorea

White-marked spider beetle

Ptinus fur

Brown house moth on some grain Crown Copyright
White-shouldered house moth on some grain Crown Copyright
Hairy fungus beetle on some grain Crown Copyright
White-marked spider beetle on some grain Crown Copyright

Mould beetle

Cryptophagus species

Mould beetle on some grain Crown Copyright

Plaster beetle

Lathridiidae

Plaster beetle on some grain Crown Copyright

Booklice

Psocoptera species

Booklice on some grain Crown Copyright

Non-damaging or stray species

Rove beetle

Staphylinidae

Ground beetle

Carabidae

Narrow-necked harvest beetle

Anthicus floralis

Clover weevil

Sitona species

Rove beetle on some grain Crown Copyright
Ground beetle on some grain Crown Copyright
Narrow-necked harvest beetle on some grain Crown Copyright
Clover weevil on some grain Crown Copyright

Predatory mite

Gamasina

Predatory mite

Cheyletus eruditus

Predatory mite (Gamasina) on some grain Crown Copyright
Predatory mite (Cheyletus eruditus) on some grain Crown Copyright

Topics:

Product Quality and Safety Wheat Barley Oilseed Rape

Sectors:

Cereals & Oilseeds

Tags:

beetle weevil mite grain storage grain storage harvest

© Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board 2024 | All Rights Reserved

Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board, Middlemarch Business Park, Siskin Parkway East, Coventry, CV3 4PE

×