Secondary insect pests
There are approximately 35 species of insects and grain mites recognized by the Canadian Grain Commission as being secondary pests. This includes over 22 species of beetles, 11 species of moths, 2 species of booklice and grain mites.
Secondary pests generally feed on grain that is damaged or is going out of condition. Damaged grain kernels have exposed endosperm that is accessible food for insects and fungi. The presence of secondary insect pests often indicates that the grain is not at optimal condition and that measures should be implemented to protect the grain from a further decline in quality.
List of secondary insect pests
The secondary pests listed below are arranged alphabetically by order, family and scientific name. The grain mites are listed at the end of the insects because they are not insects but are considered secondary pests of grain.
- Cigarette beetle (Lasioderma serricorne)
- Drugstore beetle (Stegobium paniceum)
- Spider beetles
- Whitemarked spider beetle (Ptinus fur)
- Hairy spider beetle (Ptinus villiger)
- Silken fungus beetles Atomaria
- Silken fungus beetles Cryptophagus
- Dermestids
- Black carpet beetle (Attagenus unicolor)
- Larder beetle (Dermestes lardarius)
- Glabrous cabinet beetle (Trogoderma glabrum)
- Mottled dermestid beetle (Trogoderma inclusum)
- Ornate carpet beetle (Trogoderma ornatum)
- Warehouse beetle (Trogoderma variabile)
- Plaster beetle (Cartodere constricta)
- Squarenosed fungus beetle (Lathridius minutus)
- Spotted hairy fungus beetle (Mycetophagus quadriguttatus)
- Hairy fungus beetle (Typhaea stercorea)
- Sap beetle (Various species in the genera Carpophilus, Glischrochilus)
- Foreign grain beetle (Ahasverus advena)
- Lesser mealworm (Alphitobius diapernus)
- Black fungus beetle (Alphitobius laevigatus)
- Broadhorned flour beetle (Gnatocerus cornutus)
- Smalleyed flour beetle (Palorus ratzeburgii)
- Yellow mealworm (Tenebrio molitor)
- Dark mealworm (Tenebrio obscurus)
- American black flour beetle (Tribolium audax)
- Black flour beetle (Tribolium madens)
- Stored-product moths: various species
- White shouldered-house moth (Endrosis sarcitrella)
- Brown house moth (Hofmannophila pseudospretella)
- Almond moth (Cadra cautella)
- Mediterranean-flour-moth (Ephestia kuehniella)
- Indianmeal moth (Plodia interpunctella)
- Meal moth (Pyralis farinalis)
- European grain moth (Nemapogon granella)
- Clothes moths
- Psocids
- Silverfish or firebrat
- Grain mite
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