Hairy fungus beetle
Scientific name
Typhaea stercorea (L.)
Classification
Secondary pest; Fungus feeder
Order: Coleoptera
Family: Mycetophagidae
Acronym: TST
Description
- Adults are uniformly light brown, oval and slightly flattened, 2 to 3 mm long.
- Elytra are covered with parallel lines of fine hairs.
- Antennae are 3 segmented and the head is readily visible from above, distinguishing the hairy fungus beetle from some similar species.
- Larvae are whitish to yellowish with a visible head capsule and dark urogomphi.
- Larvae are elongate and somewhat flattened with well-developed legs.
Images
Similar species
- Silken fungus beetles (Cryptophagus spp, Atomaria spp.)
- Spotted hairy fungus beetle (Mycetophagus quadriguttatus)
- Cigarette beetle (Lasioderma serricorne)
- Drugstore beetle (Stegobium paniceum)
Commodities affected
- Stored grain, seeds, tobacco, nuts
Signs of infestation
- Is associated with mouldy or damp grain
Damage
- Beetle is a generalist feeder.
- Damage is not distinctive and is caused by both adult and larval feeding.
- Beetle’s presence in stored grain indicates poor storage conditions.
How to control
Geographic range
- Is found worldwide and across Canada
Where found
- Feeds on damaged grain and is associated with mould
- Is found in warehouses, stores, flour mills, feed mills, granaries
- May be found on ripening crops prior to harvest such as hay and cereal grains
- Is also found in corn fields and may be associated with decaying ears of corn
Life history
- Adults are long lived and fly readily.
- Females lay eggs randomly within the commodity.
- Larvae are active moving freely in the commodity.
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