Grain & Food pest identification charts

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 The Confused Flour Beetle is a common and persistent stored product pest found throughout Australia, particularly in grain storage, flour mills, food manufacturing facilities, and commercial kitchens. These small reddish-brown beetles infest a wide range of dry goods, including flour, cereals, grains, nuts, and processed foods. While they do not directly damage whole grain, their presence can lead to contamination, unpleasant odours, and product spoilage—posing serious risks to food safety and brand reputation. Their ability to reproduce quickly and hide in cracks and equipment makes them difficult to control without professional treatment. 

 The Sawtoothed Grain Beetle is a fast-moving, slender insect and a common pest in stored grain and processed food products across Australia. Recognised by the distinctive saw-like projections along the sides of its thorax, this beetle thrives in warm, dry storage environments. It infests a wide variety of goods including grains, cereals, nuts, pasta, and dried fruit, often spreading rapidly through bulk storage and packaging. Though it doesn't typically damage whole, sound grain, its presence causes contamination and can lead to costly product rejection or recall—especially in export and food processing settings. 

 The Indian Meal Moth is one of the most widespread and troublesome stored product pests in Australia, commonly found in grain storage, food manufacturing facilities, and even domestic pantries. Easily recognised by its distinctive two-toned wings—pale near the body and coppery-red toward the tips—this moth poses a serious threat to stored grains, cereals, dried fruits, nuts, and pet foods. Infestations begin when larvae contaminate products with silk webbing and droppings, leading to spoilage and product rejection. As the moths are strong fliers, they can quickly spread throughout storage and production areas. 

 The Red Flour Beetle is a common stored product pest in Australia, frequently found in flour mills, grain storage facilities, food processing plants, and commercial kitchens. These small, reddish-brown beetles infest a variety of dry stored products such as flour, cereals, rice, spices, and processed grain-based goods. While they do not typically feed on whole grain, they thrive in broken kernels and residues, causing contamination through their presence, cast skins, and odour. Infestations can lead to product spoilage, compliance issues, and costly recalls. 

 The Mediterranean Flour Moth is a significant pest in grain processing and food manufacturing facilities across Australia. Most active in flour mills, bakeries, and warehouses, the larvae of this moth feed on a wide range of dry goods including flour, grains, cereals, and bran. As they feed, they produce silken webbing that clogs machinery, contaminates products, and leads to costly shutdowns or product rejection. Adult moths are pale grey with distinctive wavy markings on their wings and are often seen flying around infested areas.  

 The Rice Weevil is one of the most destructive primary grain pests in Australia, commonly found in stored wheat, rice, maize, barley, and other whole cereal grains. Unlike many other stored product pests, Rice Weevil larvae develop inside the grain kernel, making infestations harder to detect and more difficult to treat. Adult weevils are small, dark brown to black, with four pale reddish or yellowish spots on their backs and a distinct snout. Infestations can cause significant weight loss, heating, and spoilage of grain—posing serious risks to grain quality and marketability.  

 The Larger Grain Borer is a highly destructive stored grain pest known for its aggressive feeding habits and rapid reproduction. Though not as widespread in Australia as other grain pests, it is considered a serious biosecurity threat due to its ability to infest whole grains such as maize, wheat, and cassava. Both adults and larvae bore directly into grain kernels, reducing them to dust and causing extensive loss. Adults are dark brown to black, cylindrical, and slightly larger than common grain beetles, with powerful mandibles used for tunnelling. Early detection and fast response are critical to managing this pest. 

 The Warehouse Beetle is an increasingly common stored product pest in Australia, particularly in grain stores, food processing facilities, and warehouses. This small, brown beetle is part of the dermestid family and is highly resilient, capable of surviving in dry environments and infesting a wide range of products—including grains, seeds, pet food, and dried animal products. The larvae are covered in bristly hairs and are responsible for most of the damage, as they contaminate products with shed skins and frass. Known for its ability to develop resistance to some treatments, the Warehouse Beetle poses a significant challenge to long-term storage hygiene. 

 The Cigarette Beetle is a small, reddish-brown stored product pest commonly found in food processing, storage, and retail environments across Australia. While it is well-known for infesting tobacco products, it also targets a wide range of dried goods such as cereals, spices, flour, pet food, dried herbs, and even pharmaceuticals. Adult beetles are small and oval-shaped with a characteristic humped appearance and serrated antennae. The larvae are responsible for most of the damage, chewing through packaging and contaminating products with frass and silk. Their ability to thrive in warm, dry environments makes them a persistent challenge.   

 The Almond Moth is a common stored product pest in Australia, especially in warm, humid storage environments. Often confused with other small moths, it is a close relative of the Indian Meal Moth and poses similar risks. The larvae infest a wide variety of dry goods including grains, flour, dried fruits, nuts, pet food, and processed cereals. As they feed, they produce silken webbing that contaminates products, clogs machinery, and reduces product quality. Adult Almond Moths are small, greyish-brown, and tend to fly near infested areas. 

 The Lesser Grain Borer is one of the most serious primary grain pests in Australia and a major concern for grain storage facilities, bulk handlers, and exporters. This small, dark brown to black beetle is highly destructive, as both adults and larvae bore into whole grains—causing internal damage, heating, and rapid spoilage. It commonly infests wheat, barley, sorghum, rice, and maize, often going undetected until significant damage has occurred. The Lesser Grain Borer is also known for developing resistance to some insecticides, making professional fumigation and monitoring essential. 

 The Drugstore Beetle is a small, reddish-brown stored product pest found in food storage, processing, and retail environments across Australia. Despite its name, it infests a wide variety of products beyond pharmaceuticals—including flour, cereals, spices, dried herbs, pet food, tobacco, and even packaging materials. Adult beetles are oval-shaped and resemble the Cigarette Beetle but are distinguished by their smooth antennae and striated wing covers. The larvae are responsible for most of the damage, boring into products and contaminating them with frass and webbing. The Drugstore Beetle is resilient and capable of surviving in a variety of dry goods and materials.