The Sawtoothed Grain Beetle


The sawtoothed grain beetle (Oryzaephilus surinamensis) is a very common beetle in Quebec. It can easily be recognized by the six sawtooth-shaped appendages along its thorax. This characteristic earns it the name “sawtoothed grain beetle.” It’s 2 to 3 mm long when fully grown. Brown with shades of rust, it has a flat body that allows it to easily infiltrate tight spaces. As its name suggests, it primarily attacks the grains in your kitchen.

The lifestyle of the sawtoothed grain beetle

Habitat

The sawtoothed grain beetle infiltrates kitchens, restaurants, or supermarkets to meet its food needs.

Diet

Grains, flour, cereal, and pasta are the main foods of the sawtoothed grain beetle. However, it also feeds on nuts, sugar, fresh fruits, spices, and other foods. Thanks to its physiognomy, it easily penetrates various food packaging. It can even chew through paper and cellophane packages to reach food.

Reproduction

A female beetle can lay up to 400 eggs in her lifetime. She places her eggs on food individually or in groups. The eggs can hatch in just three days. The larvae feed exclusively on milled grains. The larva will become an adult in a period that ranges from three to eight weeks. With a temperature between 20 and 25 °C, their development is even faster.
Cucujide des grains Exterminateur - Grain beetle exterminator

The risks associated with sawtoothed grain beetles

The beetle contaminates all the food with which it comes into contact, since it deposits a secretion that makes the food unfit for consumption. Since it lives in pantries, the damage can become significant in the case of an infestation. The beetle can sometimes enter your home through infested food that comes from a food market. At the first signs of a grain beetle infestation, one of our specialists can support you in eliminating this pest from your environment.
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