Granary Weevil
Sitophilus granarius
Family: - Curculionidae
Order: - Coleoptera
Description:
Adult -
Colour - Shiny, dark brown to almost black.
Body - 3-4.5 mm long. Has oblong pro-thoracic sunken dots.
Wings - No hind wings. No functional wings.
Mouthparts -
Antennae -
Legs -
Head - The rostrum is more than 1 mm long.
Thorax -
Abdomen -
Egg - Whitish, oval.
Habits -
Larva - Grub like, legless and cylindrical with a red brown head.
Colour -
Body - Cylindrical
Mouthparts -
Antennae -
Legs - Legless
Head - Red brown
Thorax -
Abdomen -
Habits -
Pupa - Whitish.
Biology:
Lives entirely in storage areas and has no wings to fly between areas or into fields.
Doesn't survive in subtropical climates.
Life Cycle:
The female bores a small hole in the grain with its rostrum and deposit a single egg and then plugs the hole with a clear, gelatinous substance. The larva hatch within the grain and starts feeding. It then pupates within the grain and emerges as an adult.
Habitats:
Grain storage areas.
Origin and History:
Distribution:
Significance:
Found in storage areas in many cool temperate countries.
Management and Control:
Ensure storage areas are clean, dry, well sealed and well aerated.
Fumigation is sometimes used.
Related Species:
Rice Weevil (Sitophilus oryzae)
Similar Species:
Lesser Grain Borer (Rhyzopertha dominica)
Rice Weevil (Sitophilus oryzae)
Rust-red Flour Beetle (Tribolium castaneum)
Sawtoothed Grain Beetle (Oryzaephilus surinamensis)
References:
CSIRO. The Insects of Australia. Melbourne University Press. (1991)
WADA. Insects and Allied Pests of Extensive Farming. Department of Agriculture - Western Australia Bulletin No. 4185.
Avidov, Z. and Harpaz, I. (1969) Plant Pest of Israel. Israel University Press. P300.
Acknowledgments:
Collated by HerbiGuide. Phone 08 98444064 or www.herbiguide.com.au for more information.