ID Stored Wheat Insects

  • 1/10 to 2/10 inch
  • beetle-like
  • head with snout
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    Rice Weevil

    Description:
    The adults are 0.2 inches long. The head is prolonged into a snout. The body color is a dull red brown to black and usually has red or yellow spots on the wing covers. The rice weevil resembles the granary weevil but unlike the granary weevel has fully developed wings under the wing covers.

    Damage:
    The females chew a round hole in the grain and deposit an egg. Larvae complete development inside the kernels. Market value of wheat can be drastically reduced. Holes in the grain are more uniform than those caused by lesser grain borer. These insects are serious pests of stored grain, especially in commercial elevators, however they are rarely found in farm-stored wheat.
    Rice Weevil

    Granary Weevil

    Description:
    The adults are 0.2 inches long. the head is prolonged into a snout. the body color is red/brown to black. It is similar to the rice weevil, but does not have wings under the wing covers.

    Damage:
    The females chew a round hole in the grain and deposit an egg. Larvae complete development inside the kernels. Market value of wheat can be drastically reduced. Holes in grain are more uniform than those caused by lesser grain borer. These insects are serious pests of stored grain, especially in commercial elevators, however, they are rarely found in farm-stored wheat.
    Granary Weevil

    Maize Weevil

    Description:
    The adults are about 0.2 inches long and slightly larger than the rice weevil. The head is prolonged into a snout. The body color is a dull red brown to black and usually has more distinct red or yellow spots on the forewings than the rice weevil. The maize weevil's habits and life cycle are similar to the rice weevil but the maize weevil is a stronger flier. As with the rice weevil, the maize weevil cannot normally overwinter in temperate areas unless grain heats. It is less tolerant of low temperatures than the granary weevil.

    Damage:
    The females chew a round hole in the grain and deposit an egg. Larvae complete development inside the kernels. Market value of wheat can be drastically reduced. Holes in the grain are more uniform than those caused by the lesser grain borer. These insects are serious pests of stored grain, especially in commercial elevators.
    Maize Weevil