ID Stored Wheat Insects

1/10 to 2/10 inch beetle-like head NOT tucked	Back   Beginning   Tree
Warehouse Pirate Bug Description: The adults are 0.1 inches long. This beneficial insect is a general predator that is commonly found in grain storages. The nymphs and adults of this beneficial insect prey on eggs, larvae, and pupae of many species of grain insects, such as the red and confused flour beetle, Indian meal moth and sawtoothed grain beetle. Its generation time is about 16 days at 90 degrees F. Adult female longevity is five to six weeks. The female produces approximately 150 eggs during her lifetime. Damage: The Pirate Bug is a beneficial insect that is often found in stored corn, but is not injurious to stored grain.
Foreign Grain Beetle Description: The adults are camel-brown and 0.1 inches long. It is similar to the sawtoothed beetle, but can be distinguished by the lack of projections on the middle body segment. Larvae are white to grayish white. Damage: This insect is primarily a mold and fungus eater. Its presence may indicate high grain moisture conditions. This insect is a minor pest of stored grain.
Rusty and Flat Grain Beetles Description: The adults are flattened and red brownish in color and 1/12 inch long. The antennae are relatively long, sometimes as long as the body. The flat and rusty grain beetle look very similar. They cause similar amounts of damage and their biology is similar, so it is not necessary to distinguish between them. Damage: The eggs are deposited on the grain. After hatching the larvae usually feed in the germ layer of the wheat kernel. This insect does not cause obvious feeding damage to grain that the weevils and lesser grain borers do. This insect does not require broken kernels or fine material to survive but will reproduce faster when it is present. It is the most common insect pest of farm-stored wheat and frequently builds up to high numbers.
Sawtoothed Grain Beetle Description: The adults are very flat, narrow, dark brown in color and 0.1 inch long. They are recognized by the sawtooth projections on the sides of the middle segment. Larvae are white to pale yellow and 0.1 inch at maturity. They are similar to the merchant grain beetle in appearance and habits. In the sawtoothed grain beetle the temple region behind the eye is greater than 1/2 the eye diameter, in the merchant grain beetle the space behind the eye is less than 1/2 the eye diameter. Damage: The eggs are deposited on cracks in grain kernels. Adults and larvae require fine material to survive and cannot feed on whole kernels. They can build up to high numbers in stored grain. The merchant grain beetle is rarely a pest of stored grain. The sawtooth grain beetle is a common pest.
Flour Beetles Description: The adults of both the red and confused flour beetle are 0.1 inch long and red in color. The red flour beetle is found much more frequently in stored wheat than the confused flour beetle. The last 3 antennal segments of the red flour beetle are abruptly larger, whereas they gradually increase in size in the confused flour beetle. Larvae are 3/16 inch and have two horny projections on the end of the abdomen. Damage: The adults reproduce faster when some fine material is present in the grain. They can grow rapidly on undamaged grain, especially if the moisture is above 12%. Grain with large numbers of these insects has a pungent, undesirable odor. This insect is a fairly common pest of stored wheat.