Merchant Grain Beetles in Central Arkansas
Widely distributed throughout the United States, the merchant grain beetle is a well-known stored product pest that invades residences, supermarkets, food storage warehouses, and grain silos. They have an elongated, flat body with reddish-brown to dark brown coloration and a glossy appearance. It shares a likeness with the sawtoothed grain beetle but has the ability to fly. While it is unable to penetrate undamaged grain kernels, it thrives in food already infested by other stored product pests. Its flattened physique aids in infiltrating broken grain kernels and packaged items. In addition to food contamination, it frequently triggers mold issues due to accumulated moisture.
Merchant Grain Beetle Habitat
Merchant grain beetles are frequently encountered in food manufacturing, storage, retail establishments, and household pantries. These stored product pests have the potential to infest and taint various breakfast items, cereals, pasta, confectionery, chocolate, sugar, baking mixes, nuts, pet food, bread, oats, biscuits, cornmeal, and other dry commodities. Within grain kernels’ crevices, a single female can lay as many as 250 eggs directly on or near food sources. The eggs hatch into larvae, The larvae are small, whitish grubs with brown heads which undergo several molts before pupating and emerging as adults. Similar to other pantry pests, it is the larvae that cause the most harm, although adults are more commonly encountered. A typical indication of a merchant grain beetle infestation is the presence of adult beetles crawling in pantry areas.
Merchant Grain Beetle Behaviors, Threats, or Dangers
Merchant grain beetles are non-aggressive insects that do not bite or sting, and there are no known instances of them transmitting diseases to humans. However, they are considered nuisance pests and can contaminate and spoil stored food in homes. Adults can penetrate sealed cardboard boxes and soft plastic packaging. Infestations often begin with products purchased from grocery stores that are already harboring larvae or adult beetles. The initial infestation typically occurs at the manufacturing facility where the product originated. If you suspect a merchant grain beetle issue on your property, contact your local pantry pest control experts.
