Description

Adult

Wingspan of 16-30 mm. Forewings grey with indistinct darker markings. Labial palps short and curved upwards.

Larvae

Length of 15-20 mm. Body a white to pink colour with darker pinacula. Abdominal segment 8 has SD2 separated from spiracle by horizontal width of spiracle. Also the posterior bristle D2 is 2-2.5 times as long as anterior bristle D1 on abdominal segments 1 to 7.

Eggs

White and sticky, laid amongst a suitable food source.

Distribution

Cosmopolitan, but more common in tropical regions.

Economic Host(s)

A wide variety of stored products including cereals, dried fruits, nuts and cocoa beans.

Symptoms/Signs

The larvae feed within silken tunnels, binding grain and other foodstuffs together. Signs of feeding include silk webbing, frass, caste skins and pupal cases.

Generations:

2-6