Sawtoothed Grain

Introduction

The Sawtoothed Grain Beetle gets its common name from the six teeth located on each side of the prothorax. It is one of the most important pests of stored products found in the home and grocery stores. It is worldwide in distribution.

Recognition

Adults about 1/8 inch long, with body flattened. Color brown, with six sawlike teeth on each side of prothorax. Length of temple greater than half the vertical diameter of eye. Wings well developed, but not observed in flight.

Mature larva yellowish white. Less than 1/8 inch long. Elongate, without urogomphi, relatively smooth. Antennae three-segmented with second segment longest and third very small. The merchant, foreign, and squarenecked grain beetles share this same description.

Habits

The Sawtoothed Grain Beetle does considerable damage to grains but it cannot attack sound kernels. Its flat body form permits access through very small cracks and into imperfectly sealed packages.

Adults are not known to fly and are not attracted to light.

It attacks an extremely wide variety of foodstuffs which include cereals, bread, breakfast foods, macaroni, dried fruits, nuts, sugar, chocolate, dried meats, candy bars, drugs, tobacco, snuff, and many other products.