Merchant grain beetle Oryzaephilus mercator (Fauvel)

[عبد الرحمن الجارحي]

Classification
Primary pest; grain feeder
Order: Coleoptera
Family: Silvanidae
Acronym: OME

Description
Adults are small brown slender beetles, about 3 mm in length.
Adults are very similar morphologically to sawtoothed grain beetle. May be separated from sawtoothed grain beetles based on the width of the temple (wider in sawtoothed grain beetle).
Larvae are white to pale yellow and flattened.
Similar species
Sawtoothed grain beetle (Oryzaephilus surinamensis)
Foreign grain beetle (Ahasverus advena)
Commodities affected
Prefers foods with high oil content such oatmeal, bran, rolled oats, brown rice
Will also feed on processed cereals, dried fruit, seeds
Feeds on flour, cake mixes, pasta, cookies, nuts, coconut, puffed rice, pet food
Signs of infestation
Damage is not readily identifiable as being caused by this species
Damage
Damage is generalized and not necessarily identifiable as coming from this particular species.
Both adults and larvae feed readily causing damage.
In dwellings, they are normally carried into the house with food.
In apartment buildings, they sometimes migrate, spreading from unit to unit and become a chronic pest.
How to control
Control grain insect pests
Geographic range
Is distributed throughout Canada
Where found
Is primarily a problem in homes
May be an issue where grains with high oil content are going out of condition
Life history
Females lay up to 200 to 300 eggs over a 3-month period.
Pupation occurs either freely or within a cocoon consisting of particles of grain.
This species requires high temperatures and can tolerate low relative humidities.
This species is not particularly cold tolerant.
It does not survive Canadian winters in unheated structures.