Grain Beetles: Merchant Grain Beetles

Identification

The adult is about 1/8 inch long with six legs and is small and slender. It is small enough to permit it to penetrate packaged foodstuffs in tiny cracks and crevices.

The larvae of the Merchant Grain Beetle is less than 1/8 inch long; long and narrow with a flattened head.

 

 

 

Comparison of Merchant Grain Beetle and Saw-Tooth Beetles

The Merchant Grain Beetle is similar in appearance to the Saw-Tooth Beetle. The Merchant Grain beetle has larger eyes than the Saw-Tooth Grain Beetle.

Control Treatment Plans-How to Get Rid Of Merchant Grain Beetles

Inspect and Discard: Look for signs of their infestations. Look in particular the higher fat items in the pantry like cake mixes, chocolate, bran, brown rice, rolled oats and items that have been in storage for a long time. The Merchant Grain Beetle, like the Saw-Tooth Beetle, are not able to feed off hard shelled pantry items like whole grains, or hard shelled seeds such as corn. They can be found in these items if the grain has been broken.

Clean and Vacuum: After inspection and dicarding infested items, clean and vacuum cracks and crevices and shelves. Don't forget to clean and vacuum under the shelves and any wire shelving.

Use Pheromone Traps: These traps have a sex pheromone in order to catch and trap male cigarette beetles. They will also attract male moths. Place only a couple of traps in the kitchen or pantry. We recommend either the Invite Multi-Insect Lure.

Use Insecticide Aerosols: This is to be done after cleaning and before placing the foodstuffs back on the shelves. They will help prevent furture infestations in the cracks and crevices. For larger areas, use insecticide concentrations, such as D-Fense SC. Top recommended aerosols are Alpine PT or Phantom Aerosols.

Guidelines To Get Rid of Merchant Grain Beetles.

Merchant Grain Beetle Habits

The merchant grain beetle flies; while the Saw-Tooth does not fly. These grain beetles can fly to new food sources, instead of just normal transport. Both of these grain beetles are found in kitchens, food processing areas or warehouses.

As the Saw-tooth Beetle, Merchant Grain Beetles don't eat whole grains. They prefer the smaller broken particles and are attracted to higher fat products.

They can infest and contaminate breakfast foods, cereals, macaroni, candy, chocolate, sugar, cake mixes, brownie mixes, ntus, dried pet food, bread, rolled oats, biscuits, cornmeal, etc.

Merchant Grain Beetle Biology

Over a three month period of time, a female lays about 200-285 eggs. After the eggs are hatched, they develop in about 26 days. Depending on the food sources and temperature, the development can range from 14-46 days. They develop quickly under higher humidity.