The saw-toothed grain beetle is a member of the family of silver bark beetles. They are a global pest to grains and similar products, alongcol3 chocolates, tobacco, and drugs as both a larva and an adult. Famed Swedish zoologist Carl Linnaeus first described this species in 1758.
Size: 2.4–3 mm
Color: They are dark brown.
Other Characteristic Features: The bodies of these beetles are of a slender build, with serrated ridges on the prothorax, which look like the teeth of a saw, giving it its name.
Larvae are yellowish-white with brown heads. They are 3 mm long. While most larvae feed on broken or damaged pieces of grain, larger ones can also bore through kernels. After going through 2-4 instars, the larvae begin to pupate.
Pupation takes place incol3 a cocoon of broken grain for about a week, after which the adults emerge.
Eggs are white and small. They are laid on a food mass, with a female laying around 285 eggs in her lifetime. The time taken to hatch is temperature-dependent, with eggs hatching in 3-5 days at 27-29⁰C, but takes up to 10-15 days in colder temperatures.
| Other names | Malt beetle |
| Lifespan | 6-10 months |
| Distribution | Worldwide, but less common in colder regions like the northern part of the United States and Canada |
| Habitat | Anywhere grains are present after harvest. This may be in storage, in transit, or retail stores |
| Seasons active | Year-round |
| Hosts | Birdseeds, cereals, chocolates, dried fruits, flour, pasta, pet foods, nuts, tobacco, and yeast |
| Diet of adults | Same as larvae |
The larvae cause the most damage as their feeding leads to shrinkage of the overall mass of stored products and the growth of mold due to water generated by the activities of the beetles. The ultimate consequence is that the grains and other food products become unfit for consumption, often rejected by customers or those purchasing them.
Image Source: spencerpest.com, a4.pbase.com, extension.entm.purdue.edu, researchgate.net, bugs.com, bugguide.net
The saw-toothed grain beetle is a member of the family of silver bark beetles. They are a global pest to grains and similar products, alongcol3 chocolates, tobacco, and drugs as both a larva and an adult. Famed Swedish zoologist Carl Linnaeus first described this species in 1758.
Size: 2.4–3 mm
Color: They are dark brown.
Other Characteristic Features: The bodies of these beetles are of a slender build, with serrated ridges on the prothorax, which look like the teeth of a saw, giving it its name.
Larvae are yellowish-white with brown heads. They are 3 mm long. While most larvae feed on broken or damaged pieces of grain, larger ones can also bore through kernels. After going through 2-4 instars, the larvae begin to pupate.
Pupation takes place incol3 a cocoon of broken grain for about a week, after which the adults emerge.
Eggs are white and small. They are laid on a food mass, with a female laying around 285 eggs in her lifetime. The time taken to hatch is temperature-dependent, with eggs hatching in 3-5 days at 27-29⁰C, but takes up to 10-15 days in colder temperatures.
| Other names | Malt beetle |
| Lifespan | 6-10 months |
| Distribution | Worldwide, but less common in colder regions like the northern part of the United States and Canada |
| Habitat | Anywhere grains are present after harvest. This may be in storage, in transit, or retail stores |
| Seasons active | Year-round |
| Hosts | Birdseeds, cereals, chocolates, dried fruits, flour, pasta, pet foods, nuts, tobacco, and yeast |
| Diet of adults | Same as larvae |
The larvae cause the most damage as their feeding leads to shrinkage of the overall mass of stored products and the growth of mold due to water generated by the activities of the beetles. The ultimate consequence is that the grains and other food products become unfit for consumption, often rejected by customers or those purchasing them.
Image Source: spencerpest.com, a4.pbase.com, extension.entm.purdue.edu, researchgate.net, bugs.com, bugguide.net
