With the holiday season upon us, the National Pest Management Association (NPMA) is educating homeowners about certain insects that can infest and contaminate food in pantries. It can be very difficult to completely get rid of merchant grain beetles from your home because all adults, eggs, and larvae need to be found and eliminated. You must have JavaScript enabled in your browser to utilize the functionality of this website. [1] The larva are yellowish-white with a brown head and can reach a length of up to 3mm, larva are active and move about through a food source as they feed. I knew that I had chosen the right company when the sales person came to my house with a low pressure sales pitch. The habits and development of the two species are similar. (615) 824-8814, All-American Pest Control 2259 Jackson Downs Blvd Nashville, TN 37214 (615) 883-8526 Charter #280, All-American Pest Control 1585 Mallory Ln, Ste 201 Brentwood, TN 37027 (615) 794-4212 Charter #5181, All-American Pest Control 149 Bonita Pkwy, Ste 103 Hendersonville, TN 37075 (615) 447-5345 Charter #5182, Web Site Design & Marketing Provided By Lobster Marketing Group. Identification - Pantry Moths or Pantry Beetles ? All-American runs a first class operation. Merchant Grain Beetle Saw-Toothed Grain Beetle and Merchant Grain Beetle Diet Both beetles are pests found feeding in nuts, seeds, biscuits, dried fruit, grain, and various other food products. Their small size allows them to easily penetrate the packaged food that they use to feed and breed inside. It can be differentiated from O. surinamensis by its larger eyes and by the shape of the head, the area just behind the eyes of O. mercator is narrower than that of O. surinamensis, which has a more triangular sh… Oryzaephilus mercator, or the merchant grain beetle, is a small, flattened beetle about 2.5mm in length. For years they were considered 1 species until breeding experiments showed they were 2 different species. To schedule your free home evaluation, contact us today at All-American Pest Control! There are two main types of grain beetles: merchant grain beetles, which fly, and sawtoothed grain beetles, which don’t. The presence of live insects can result in dockage or rejection of the grain. Store grains offer ample food sources for a number of insect pests. The adult is about 1/8 inch long with six legs and is small and slender. Body: The body is flat. Larvae mature in about two weeks, and construct cocoon-like coverings by joining together small grains or pieces of grain. The larvae of the Merchant Grain Beetle is less than 1/8 inch long; long and narrow with a flattened head. The larvae emerge and crawl freely about the grain to feed on broken kernels. This includes removal of old grain from corners, floors, and walls. [2] Broken grain kernels are the principal food source but whole kernels may be penetrated and fed on. Authored by: Dennis Calvin, Assistant Professor. The dry weight of grain may be reduced, but total weight may increase because of water absorption caused by the metabolic processes of insect populations. They can grow to be one … Males can be separated from females by observing a tooth on the femur of the hind leg. The adults of both species, however, can be distinguished by head shape, eye and body size, and color. Larger larvae may tunnel into kernels to feed. It is a common, worldwide pest of grain and grain products as well as fruit, chocolate, drugs, and tobacco. The adult merchant grain beetles are strong fliers and may originate from other areas; they also are introduced into new grain from contaminated grain. Schedule Now or call us directly (615) 824-8814. Identificaton. Top recommended aerosols are Alpine PT or Phantom Aerosols. Adults live an average of six to … National Pest Management Association, Tips on Finding a Pest Control Professional, Keep Pantry Pests Out of Food Storage Areas This Holiday Season, Slideshow: 6 Tips to Prevent Pesky Pantry Pests, Prevent Beetles and Moths From Spoiling Holiday Cheer, Have a Holly Jolly (And Pest-Free) Holiday. The adults of the sawtoothed grain beetle, on the other hand, cannot fly and must be introduced from contaminated grain. When proper management is ignored, populations of insects which have been feeding and reproducing in grain residues are free to infest new grain. The merchant grain beetle, however, is less cold tolerant and lays only about one-half to two-thirds as many eggs as does the sawtoothed grain beetle. Adult merchant grain beetles are brown in color, they have 6 legs, antennae, and have an oval narrow shaped body with a flattened head. In some cases, grain can be rejected at the terminal. You can cancel at any time! For larger areas, use insecticide concentrations, such as D-Fense SC. These pests are attracted to nearly any stored food product, particularly cereals, breakfast foods, flour, dried fruits and meats, pet foods, and many other items. If merchant grain beetles have infested your home, pantry, and/or kitchen contact the pest control experts All-American Pest Control today.