The lesser mealworm

The lesser mealworm is an insect that can pose a huge threat to cereal products and foodstuffs. The life cycle of this pest is between 82 and 364 days, and in heated warehouses it can last up to 2-4 years. Adult moths do not feed on solid food, but females that lay around 150 eggs can cause serious damage. Read on to learn more about recognising and controlling the lesser mealworm.

Recognising and identifying the lesser mealworm

The lesser mealworm (Ephestia elutella) is a pest with a distinctive appearance that can cause significant damage to grain warehouses and food products. The adult moths have coloured wings, making them fairly easy to recognise. The female moth can lay up to 150 eggs, which increases their potential danger. An interesting and important feature of the adult moths is that they do not need to eat solid food, which distinguishes them from many other pests.

The life cycle of the furniture beetle can last from 82 to 364 days, but in heated warehouses this period can be extended to up to 2-4 years. The caterpillars of this insect feed on various organic materials, which further increases the damage caused to stocks. Understanding these aspects of the weevil’s characteristics is crucial to effective prevention and control measures to protect resources and crops from their destructive effects.

Dangers of the weevil

The lesser grain borer is a serious threat to food warehouses and food products due to its life cycle and rapid reproduction rate. Its presence can lead to significant losses in cereal products, as the pest’s caterpillars feed on various organic materials, which directly reduces the quality and usability of food products. As a result, goods stored in warehouses can be contaminated with the excrement, dead bodies and cast skins of adult beetles, which leads to significant financial losses and the need to dispose of the affected stocks.

In order to minimise the risks associated with the presence of several codling moths in food warehouses, it is necessary to take effective preventive and control measures. It is crucial to regularly monitor the condition of warehouses and food products and to maintain appropriate hygiene conditions. In practice, this means regular inspections, cleaning of warehouses, the use of pheromone traps to detect the presence of this pest, as well as the use of appropriate insecticides. The introduction of these measures allows for the reduction of risks and the protection of resources from the destructive influence of the multiple-pest.