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 for more information.