Khapra beetle
Scientific name
Trogoderma granarium Everts
Classification
Primary pest; grain feeder; quarantine pest
Order: Coleoptera
Family: Dermestidae
Acronym: TGR
Images
Similar species
- Other Trogoderma species
Commodities affected
- Grains and oilseeds, maltings, dried vegetable seeds
Signs of infestation
- Initial discoveries are often based on the presence of accumulations of cast larval skins
Damage
- Larvae initially feed on damaged grain pieces.
- As larvae mature, they are able to attack whole grains.
- Larvae may completely destroy commodity.
How to control
Geographic range
- Is not established in Canada and is a quarantine pest
- Thrives in hot, dry climates
Life history
- Females lay eggs amongst the commodity.
- Larvae may enter diapause (dormant state) and remain inactive for up to 8 years if conditions are unfavourable.
- diapause may be initiated by cooler temperature, poor food quality or low population densities.
- Larvae moult multiple times and duration of life cycle depends on conditions.
- If conditions are favorable, life cycle is shorter in duration with fewer molts.
- Adults cannot fly.
- Adults do not feed.
- Beetle only has competitive advantage in hot dry grain where other more prevalent species do not have the advantage they have when humidity is normal.
- Diapause may be initiated by cooler temperature, poor food quality or high population densities.
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