Stored-product-pests
Guides
Acaridae
Stored Products Mites, Mold Mites, Grain Mites
Acaridae is a family of mites in the order Sarcoptiformes, commonly known as stored products mites or mold mites. The family includes over 400 species across multiple genera, with cosmopolitan distributions. Many species are generalists inhabiting both natural environments (soil, litter, animal nests, decomposing plant material) and artificial environments (human dwellings, granaries, greenhouses). Several genera contain significant agricultural and stored product pests, including *Acarus*, *Tyrophagus*, and *Rhizoglyphus*, which cause economic damage to crops, bulbs, and stored foodstuffs.
Acaridia
Acaridia is a zoosubsection within the suborder Astigmatina (order Sarcoptiformes), encompassing a diverse group of mites commonly referred to as acarid mites. The group includes at least 136 species in 50 genera and 14 families documented in China alone, with substantial diversity also recorded in other regions. These mites are predominantly synanthropic, occurring in human-associated environments such as stored products, barns, and dwellings. Research has documented significant altitudinal variation in species diversity, with higher richness at lower elevations.
Anthrenini
Anthrenini is a tribe of carpet beetles within the family Dermestidae, subfamily Megatominae. The tribe contains at least 100 described species, primarily in the genus Anthrenus, with one additional monotypic genus Dermeanthrenus. Members are small beetles known for feeding on keratinous materials including wool, fur, feathers, and dried animal products. Several species are significant household and museum pests worldwide.
Anthribidae
fungus weevils
Anthribidae is a family of beetles commonly known as fungus weevils, distinguished from true weevils (Curculionidae) by their straight, non-elbowed antennae. Members of this family typically possess thread-like antennae that may exceed body length, representing the longest antennae among all Curculionoidea. The labrum appears as a separate segment from the clypeus, and maxillary palps are notably long and projecting. Most species feed on fungi or decaying plant matter, with larvae developing within dead wood. Some members exhibit unusual feeding habits: Choraginae includes seed-feeding species, a few are stored product pests, and the genus Anthribus uniquely preys upon soft scale insects.
Astigmata
Astigmata is a diverse suborder of mites characterized by the absence of stigmata (respiratory openings) and tracheal systems. The group encompasses three major ecological radiations: permanent ectosymbionts of birds (feather mites), inhabitants of decaying organic matter and stored products, and parasites of vertebrates and arthropods. Feather mites represent the most species-rich component, with three superfamilies (Analgoidea, Pterolichoidea, Freyanoidea) colonizing all feather types of birds worldwide. Many non-feather-associated lineages exhibit a specialized dispersal stage, the heteromorphic deutonymph (hypopus), adapted for phoretic transport on arthropods. The suborder shows remarkable morphological and ecological diversification, with life cycles ranging from entirely host-bound to complex multi-habitat strategies.
Atomariinae
silken fungus beetles
Atomariinae is a subfamily of small beetles within the family Cryptophagidae, commonly known as silken fungus beetles. The group comprises approximately 8 genera and more than 170 described species, including the well-known genus Atomaria. Members are generally associated with fungal habitats. The subfamily was established by J.L. LeConte in 1861.
Attagenini
Attagenini is a tribe of carpet beetles in the family Dermestidae, established by Laporte in 1840 and reduced from subfamily rank (Attageninae) to tribe in 2003. The tribe comprises at least seven genera including Attagenus (black carpet beetles), Novelsis, and Paranovelsis, with approximately 20 described species. Members are characterized morphologically by features visible in both adult and larval stages. The genus Attagenus contains economically significant species that are common household pests.
Bostrichidae
auger beetles, false powderpost beetles, horned powderpost beetles
Bostrichidae is a family of beetles containing more than 700 described species. Members are commonly known as auger beetles, false powderpost beetles, or horned powderpost beetles. The family includes significant stored product pests such as the lesser grain borer (Rhyzopertha dominica) and the larger grain borer (Prostephanus truncatus), as well as wood-boring species. The fossil record extends to the Cretaceous period.
Bostrichoidea
Carpet, Powderpost, and Deathwatch Beetles
Bostrichoidea is a superfamily of beetles within the infraorder Bostrichiformia. It encompasses several families including Bostrichidae (powder-post and horned beetles), Dermestidae (carpet beetles), Endecatomidae, and Ptinidae (death-watch and spider beetles). Members are predominantly associated with dry habitats and exhibit diverse ecological roles ranging from wood-boring to scavenging on dried organic matter. The superfamily is united by modified cryptonephridism, male aedeagus structure, and larval mandibular morphology lacking a basal mola.
Bruchinae
Pea and Bean Weevils, Seed Beetles, Bean Weevils
Bruchinae is a subfamily of small beetles within Chrysomelidae, historically treated as a separate family (Bruchidae). Adults are typically 1.5–10 mm in length. Larvae develop entirely within seeds of legumes and other plants, completing their life cycle without leaving the host seed. The subfamily includes approximately 1,350 species worldwide. Many species are significant agricultural pests of stored legumes, with some introduced outside their native ranges through international trade.
Byrrhodes
death-watch beetles, spider beetles
Byrrhodes is a genus of small beetles in the family Ptinidae, commonly referred to as death-watch and spider beetles. The genus contains approximately 14 described species. These beetles are typically associated with dry organic materials and wood products. Taxonomic placement has varied, with some sources historically placing the genus in Anobiidae.
Choraginae
fungus weevils
Choraginae is a subfamily of fungus weevils within the beetle family Anthribidae. The subfamily comprises approximately 9 genera, with authoritative sources differing on species count—estimates range from at least 20 to more than 180 described species. The subfamily includes economically significant genera such as Araecerus, which contains stored product pests. Choraginae is distinguished from other anthribid subfamilies by morphological and biological characteristics associated with their fungal associations.
Cleridae
checkered beetles
Cleridae, commonly known as checkered beetles, is a family of predatory beetles in the superfamily Cleroidea. The family contains approximately 3,500 species worldwide, with about 500 species in North America. Most species are predatory, feeding primarily on other beetles and their larvae, particularly bark beetles and wood-boring beetles. Some genera exhibit scavenging or pollen-feeding habits. The family has significant economic importance as biological control agents against forest pests.
Cryptorama
death-watch beetles, spider beetles
Cryptorama is a genus of beetles in the family Ptinidae, commonly referred to as death-watch and spider beetles. The genus was established by Fall in 1905 and contains more than 20 described species. Members of this genus share characteristics with other Ptinidae in their compact body form and association with wood or stored products.
Dermestidae
skin beetles, carpet beetles, larder beetles, hide beetles, leather beetles, khapra beetles
Dermestidae is a family of beetles comprising approximately 1,700 to 1,800 described species worldwide. Adults are small (1–12 mm), typically oval to rounded, with antennae that are clubbed and usually concealed in thoracic grooves. The family exhibits exceptional diversity in feeding ecology: larvae of most species are scavengers specialized on dry organic matter, particularly keratin-rich materials including animal hair, feathers, hides, wool, and silk. Certain genera have evolved highly specific associations, such as Thaumaglossa in mantid egg cases. The family includes significant economic pests (carpet beetles, khapra beetle), forensic indicators (hide beetles), and beneficial species used in taxidermy and museum specimen preparation. Larvae of subfamily Megatominae possess distinctive defensive hastisetae—barbed, spear-tipped setae that detach to entangle predators.
Epauloecus unicolor
A small beetle in the family Ptinidae (spider beetles), recorded from scattered localities in Europe and eastern Canada. The specific epithet "unicolor" suggests uniform coloration, though detailed morphological descriptions are limited in available sources. The species has been documented in Serbia, Austria, and several Canadian provinces including New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Quebec.
Galleriinae
wax moths, snout moths
The Galleriinae are a subfamily of snout moths (Pyralidae) with approximately 306 described species distributed worldwide. This subfamily includes the commercially significant wax moths, whose larvae (waxworms) are mass-produced as pet food and fishing bait. Several species are economically important pests: wax moths (Achroia and Galleria) damage honeybee colonies, while others such as the rice moth (Corcyra cephalonica) infest stored food products. The subfamily exhibits notable morphological diversity, with five recognized tribes including the recently described Joelminetiini (2007).
Glycyphagidae
glycyphagid mites, storage mites
Glycyphagidae is a family of mites in the order Sarcoptiformes (Astigmata), comprising more than 25 genera and approximately 100 described species. Many species are associated with nests of rodents, insectivores, opossums, and birds, while others have become pests of stored food products and human dwellings. Several species, including *Glycyphagus domesticus* and *Lepidoglyphus destructor*, are economically significant as stored grain pests and sources of allergens.
Glycyphagoidea
Glycyphagoidea is a superfamily of astigmatid mites within the order Sarcoptiformes. These mites are primarily associated with stored products, bird and mammal nests, and occasionally with human habitations. The superfamily includes several families of small, soft-bodied mites that are often overlooked due to their minute size.
Laelius
Laelius is a cosmopolitan genus of small parasitoid wasps in the family Bethylidae, subfamily Epyrinae. Species are ectoparasitoids of beetle larvae, primarily attacking Dermestidae (larder beetles), with some species also associated with Scolytinae and Glossinidae. The genus contains approximately 68 valid species worldwide, with significant diversity in the Palaearctic region. Several species have been investigated for biological control of stored product pests and forest pests.
Lyctini
Powderpost beetles (tribe)
Lyctini is a tribe of wood-boring beetles within the family Bostrichidae, commonly known as powderpost beetles. Members are characterized by their ability to digest cellulose through symbiotic yeasts, enabling them to infest and damage seasoned hardwoods. The tribe includes economically significant pests such as species in the genus Lyctus. These beetles are distinguished from other Bostrichidae by their small size, cylindrical bodies, and reduced elytral declivity.
Oecophoridae
Concealer moths
Oecophoridae is a family of small moths in the superfamily Gelechioidea, commonly known as concealer moths. The family's circumscription remains unsettled due to unresolved phylogeny of gelechoid moths, with various treatments placing different subfamilies within or outside the family. The group includes species with diverse ecological roles, from nutrient recyclers feeding on dead plant material to significant household pests.
Ozognathus floridanus
Ozognathus floridanus is a small beetle in the family Ptinidae, first described by LeConte in 1878. The species is known from North America, with records indicating presence in the United States. Like other members of Ptinidae, it is likely associated with wood or stored products, though specific ecological details remain poorly documented. The genus Ozognathus contains relatively few described species, and O. floridanus appears to be one of the less frequently encountered members of this group.
Phycitinae
Knot-horn Moths
Phycitinae is a subfamily of snout moths (Pyralidae) representing the most diverse lineage within its family, encompassing over 600 genera and more than 4,000 species—more than three-quarters of living snout moth diversity. Together with Epipaschiinae, they form the most advanced lineage of snout moths. Adults are typically small, slender-bodied moths with well-developed proboscises and often elongated labial palps forming a 'snout.' The subfamily exhibits remarkable ecological diversity, with larvae occupying roles as leaf rollers, seed feeders, gall inquilines, aquatic predators, and agricultural pests.
Phycitini
Phycitini is a tribe of small moths within the family Pyralidae, subfamily Phycitinae. Members are commonly known as snout moths due to their prominent labial palps. The tribe contains numerous genera and is one of the most species-rich groups within the Pyralidae. Many species are associated with dried plant material and stored products.
Psocodea
bark lice, book lice, parasitic lice, barklice, booklice
Psocodea is an order of insects comprising approximately 11,000 species across three extant suborders: Trogiomorpha, Troctomorpha, and Psocomorpha. The group includes free-living barklice and booklice, as well as the parasitic lice (formerly Phthiraptera). Molecular and morphological evidence demonstrates that parasitic lice evolved from within the barklice lineage, rendering the former order 'Psocoptera' paraphyletic. Members range from 1–10 mm in length and occupy diverse habitats from forest canopies to stored products.
Ptininae
Spider Beetles
Ptininae is a subfamily of small beetles commonly known as spider beetles, containing approximately 500 species. Members are characterized by rounded, compact bodies, long slender legs, and complete absence of wings. Both adults and larvae are scavengers. The subfamily has been treated variously as part of Anobiidae or as the separate family Ptinidae.
Pyralidae
pyralid moths, snout moths, grass moths
Pyralidae is a diverse family of Lepidoptera in the superfamily Pyraloidea, comprising over 6,000 described species worldwide. The family is commonly known as snout moths due to the prominent elongated labial palps that project forward from the head. Historically, the Crambidae (grass moths) were included within Pyralidae as a subfamily, but modern classifications treat them as a separate family. Pyralidae includes numerous economically important pest species affecting stored products, agriculture, and forestry.
Silvanidae
Silvan Flat Bark Beetles, Silvanid Flat Bark Beetles
Silvanidae is a family of small beetles in the superfamily Cucujoidea, comprising approximately 68 genera and 500 described species. Members are found on all continents except Antarctica, with highest diversity in the Old World tropics. The family is divided into two subfamilies: Brontinae (larger, loosely jointed beetles with long antennae and mandibular mycangia) and Silvaninae (smaller beetles with closed procoxal cavities). While many species inhabit subcortical environments under bark, several genera have become economically significant stored product pests.
Sphaericus
spider beetles
Sphaericus is a genus of spider beetles in the family Ptinidae, established by Wollaston in 1854. The genus contains more than 30 described species. Members are classified within the tribe Sphaericini and subfamily Ptininae. These beetles are part of the diverse spider beetle assemblage, a group often associated with stored products and dry organic materials.
Teretriosoma
clown beetles
Teretriosoma is a genus of clown beetles in the family Histeridae, established by Horn in 1873. The genus comprises approximately 11 described species distributed primarily in the Americas. One species, Teretriosoma nigrescens, has been extensively studied as a biological control agent against the larger grain borer Prostephanus truncatus, a major pest of stored maize and cassava in Africa and Latin America. Members of this genus are small predatory beetles associated with decomposing organic matter and stored products.
Triboliini
Triboliini is a tribe of darkling beetles (family Tenebrionidae) containing approximately 10 genera. The tribe includes the globally distributed genus Tribolium, commonly known as flour beetles, which are significant pests of stored grain products. Other genera exhibit more restricted geographic distributions, primarily in the Neotropics, North America, tropical Africa, Indomalaya, and Oceania. Triboliini is classified within the subfamily Tenebrioninae and was established by Gistel in 1848.
Trigonogenius
Trigonogenius is a genus of spider beetles in the family Ptinidae, established by Hagedorn in 1912. The genus contains five to six described species, including the globular spider beetle (Trigonogenius globulum). A new species was described from Peru in 2025, indicating ongoing taxonomic work and expanding knowledge of the genus's Neotropical diversity.
Xylocorini
Xylocorini is a monotypic tribe of minute predatory bugs in the family Anthocoridae, containing only the genus Xylocoris. The tribe comprises approximately 50 described species worldwide, with the highest diversity in the Palaearctic Region. Members are small, cryptic insects associated with concealed microhabitats.