Sitotroga cerealella

(Olivier, 1789)

Angoumois grain moth

, the , is a gelechiid and the type of its . It is a significant pest of stored cereal grains, particularly wheat and corn. The species serves as a factitious for mass rearing of the Trichogramma chilonis in programs. Laboratory studies indicate sensitivity to gamma irradiation and thermal stress, with dose-dependent effects on viability and longevity.

Sitotroga cerealella by no rights reserved, uploaded by Jade Fortnash. Used under a CC0 license.

Sitotroga cerealella Piazzo 01 by Syrio. Used under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license.

Sitotroga cerealella Piazzo 05 by Syrio. Used under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Sitotroga cerealella: /sɪtəˈtɹoʊɡə ˌsɛɹiəˈlɛlə/

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

Images

Habitat

Stored grain environments; laboratory rearing on wheat grains and shelled corn. Natural not explicitly documented in available sources.

Distribution

Recorded from the Azores (Corvo, Faial, São Miguel, Terceira) and Galápagos Islands. Global distribution as a stored product pest is implied but not quantified in available sources.

Diet

Larval development on wheat grains and corn; specific feeding habits beyond grain consumption not documented.

Host Associations

Trichogramma chilonis - factitious (used for mass rearing in )Laboratory rearing context; S. cerealella serves as for this
Pteromalus cerealellae - Natural enemy in stored grain systems; suppresses S. cerealella in shelled corn

Life Cycle

stage: 12 and 24 hour ages studied; prolonged to 7.06 days under 35 Gy gamma irradiation. Pupal stage: subject to irradiation effects; 5 Gy yielded 86.66% and 7.46 days longevity, while 20 Gy significantly reduced emergence and longevity.

Ecological Role

Pest in stored grain systems. Factitious for mass rearing of agents, ensuring year-round availability of for research and field releases. Subject to biological control suppression by parasitoids in stored grain environments.

Human Relevance

Major pest of stored cereals causing economic losses in grain storage. Widely used in insectaries as a for rearing Trichogramma chilonis for programs. Subject to management through gamma irradiation (lower doses recommended for shelf-life extension without significant quality loss) and plant-derived .