Flat Grain Beetle

Cryptolestes pusillus

Classification

Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Hexapoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Coleoptera
Suborder: Polyphaga
Superfamily: Cucujoidea
Family: Laemophloeidae
Genus: Cryptolestes
Species: pusillus

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Cryptolestes pusillus: //ˌkrɪptoʊˈlɛstis pjuːˈsɪləs//

These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.

Images

Cryptolestes pusillus by Pia Scanlon DAFWA. Used under a CC BY 3.0 au license.

Cryptolestes pusillus (Schoenherr, 1817) (10959317805) by Udo Schmidt from Deutschland. Used under a CC BY-SA 2.0 license.

CSIRO ScienceImage 2632 Flat grain beetle Cryptolestes pusillus by division, CSIRO. Used under a CC BY 3.0 license.

Summary

Cryptolestes pusillus, known as the flat grain beetle, is a small pest that affects stored grains. Often found in association with other pests like the rice weevil, it does not attack sound or uninjured kernels.

Physical Characteristics

1.4–1.9 mm in length.

Habitat

Synanthropic; found in environments where grain is stored.

Distribution

Cosmopolitan, originating from tropical and subtropical regions.

Diet

Feeds on stored grain and dead insects during the larval stage.

Life Cycle

Usually takes 5–9 weeks from egg to adult; adult female lives about 1 year.

Ecosystem Role

Considered one of the most common pests of stored grain.

Economic Impact

Pest of grain products, notably in stored products in commercial settings, affecting grain quality and leading to financial losses.