Angoumois grain moth, Sitotroga cerealella
(Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae)

The Angoumois grain moth is second only to the grain and rice weevils in its importance as a pest of stored grain in the United States. Larvae of this moth attack maturing grain in the field or whole grain in storage. It is worldwide in distribution.

The adults are small, buff to grayish or yellowish brown with a wingspan of 13 to 17 mm. Their wings are heavily lined with long hairs on the margins. Adult females lay an average of 40 tiny eggs, and the hatched caterpillars bore into and live inside the kernel. Caterpillars are uniformly cream color with a light brown head and about 5 mm long when fully grown. They usually spin silken threads over infested grain. Adult moths do not feed. The life cycle takes five to seven weeks to complete and there may be two to four generations per year.

Images

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Adult Angoumois grain moth, Sitotroga cerealella, on wheat.
(Photographer: L.J. Buss, University of Florida)

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Adult Angoumois grain moth, Sitotroga cerealella, and
damage to corn.
(Photographer: L.J. Buss, University of Florida)

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Angoumois grain moth, Sitotroga cerealella, larva on wheat.
(Photographer: L.J. Buss, University of Florida)

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Angoumois grain moth, Sitotroga cerealella, eggs on corn
kernel.
(Photographer: L.J. Buss, University of Florida)

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Angoumois grain moth, Sitotroga cerealella, damage to
wheat.
(Photographer: L.J. Buss, University of Florida)

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