Stored Product Insects Control

Store Product Insects

Although there are many great species of stored product insects occurring throughout the world, the species most common in the UK are:

Identification of Stored Product Insects

Mill Moth (Ephestia Kuehniella)

 Habits –  Mill moth rarely attacks commodities other than flour. Adults tend to rest during the day and fly at dusk. They do not feed but may take water.

Larva – pinkish or greenish tinge depending on food eaten.

Indian meal moth (plodia interpunctella)

The first third of the forewings of the Indian meal moth are pale buff. Remainder of the wings are reddish-brown.

Larva – yellowish-white, reddish or greenish (depending on diet) with a brown head.

Habits – feeds on nuts, dried fruit and grain (maize).

Saw-toothed Grain Beetle (Oryzaephilus surinamensis)

Saw-toothed grain beetle is widely distributed in temperate and tropical zones. Significant grain pest but also on many other stored foods. Survives winter in unheated buildings, grain stores in the UK.

Larvae- active, free living. On cereals, they feed on damaged grains and other foodstuffs.

Importance – Most important UK grain pest but also on cereal products, nuts, dried fruit. Causes grain heating (leading to ‘hot spots’ and mould growth), damage, and loss of germination. Contamination and damage to other foodstuffs.

Warehouse Moth (ephestia elutella)

Temperate species, the warehouse moth is widespread in the UK. Indoors only in warehouses, food factories, and shops on a wide range of stored food. Sometimes on the surface of stored grain. Damage is done by larvae only.

Larvae- caterpillar, whitish with brown head. Forms silk sheets on the surface of food.

Importance – Significant stored food pest causing contamination by silk and frass (droppings), and some direct damage. Related species are also important (see text).

Yellow Mealworm Beetle (Tenebrio Molitor)

Yellow Mealworm Beetles are common in the UK as omnivorous scavengers in birds’ nests, on droppings or dead birds and general residues in attics and cellars. Larvae used as fishing bait.

Larvae- up to 30mm long, yellow and brown banded. Free living on cereal products, bird’s nest detritus, and general scavengers. Take up to 1.5 years to develop.

Importance – Minor pest usually indicating poor hygiene or debris in roof spaces and cellars.

Tropical Warehouse moth (Ephestia Cautella)

Grey-brown banded with lighter and darker colours.

Larva- whitish, yellowish or reddish depending on food. Tropical warehouse moths tend to wander upwards to dark areas to pupate.

Habits – often linked with imported food cargoes. Primarily tropical warehouse moth is a pest of stored cereals, nuts dried fruit, oil seeds, and oil cakes. Rarely attacks tobacco and animal products.

 Importance – Adults do not feed.