ID Stored Wheat Insects

  • over 1/3 inch
  • moth-like
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    Angoumois Grain Moth

    Description:
    The adult wingspan is about 1/2 inch. The wings are yellowish-brown.

    Damage:
    The larvae feed inside the grain kernel, and leaves a perfectly round hole in the kernel after it emerges. Infestations are confined to the surface layer of the grain. This insect attacks a variety of stored cereal grains, although it is primarily a pest of corn in the southern U.S.
    Angoumois Grain Moth

    Indian Meal Moth

    Description:
    This moth is the only one that is commonly found in stored wheat. The adult has an obvious snout and is 0.4 inch long. The wings are reddish-brown with a copper luster fading to whitish gray near the body. Adults rest near the ceiling in the day. Larvae are 0.7 inch and have a dirty white to greenish hue. The larvae leave a shiny webbing on the surface of the grain.

    Damage:
    The eggs are deposited on the grain surface. Larvae feed on the germ. Fecal material and webbing cause the grain to stick to the sides of the bin. This insect does not cause major damage because it is restricted to the top 6 inches. It can be controlled with top dressings of approved insecticides.
    Indian Meal Moth