The egg is laid and the larva lives inside cereal grains of all kinds, hollowing them out and causing serious damage if uncontrolled.
It can be destroyed by fumigation in suitably constructed storehouses.
I also infests many foodstuffs prepared from flour.
This weevil was a huge problem in the days of sailing ships because the staple food on board was a thick, hard cookie in which the grain weevil thrived.
Some sailors broke their cookies and tapped them on the table to dislodge the grubs and beetles; others ate them as they were and were possibly better nourished as a result.
The Sitophilus granarius can be recognized by the presence of a prominent snout at the front of the head.
Adult are 3-4 mm in length and dark brown to black.
Eggs are laid inside grain of cereal and the larva remains in the grain, feeding and pupating, before the adult emerges through a small exit hole.
This activity produces large quantities of dust and faecal material known as ‘frass’ and may cause significant economic loss.
Infestation can go in detected for a period of time, and can be introduced into new areas when grain is moved.
Sitophilus granarius
