The most destructive pests of grain products: Khapra beetle

Storing large quantities of food (cereal, sugar, etc.) causes all sorts problems. Beetles are a particular nuisance because they can hide themselves away in cracks and so avoid being got at.

One of the most dreaded dermestid beetles is the Khapra beetle. Khapra beetle has traditionally been regarded as one of the most important potential pests of stored products. It is frequently a pest in tropical and subtropical countries.

This small, brownish, inconspicuous-looking beetle probably originates from the Indian subcontinent. The Khapra beetle (Trogoderma granarium) needs period at 30 °C, but localities with periods of over 20 °C may be at some risk and indoor temperature must be considered.

The Khapra beetles is a master of survival. It can endure starvation for years, hiding in the tiniest nooks and crannies, in crack behind peeling paint or scales of rust.

Khapra beetles may be baited by merely suspending large pieces of jute fabric on top of the infested grain.
The most destructive pests of grain products: Khapra beetle