About Red Flour Beetle and Rice Moth These two insects are common pests of shelled groundnuts...

About Red Flour Beetle and Rice Moth

These two insects are common pests of shelled groundnuts (kernels or seeds).

However, they are considered as secondary pests as they are not capable of infesting well formed and undamaged pods.

Virtual Academy for the Semi Arid Tropics

Lesson 1: Red Flour Beetle and Rice Moth

Course on Insect Pests of Groundnut

Module VI: Storage Pests





About Red Flour Beetle

Adult red flour beetles are 3-4 mm long, oblong, and coppery brown in color. Slender cylindrical larvae start feeding on the seed after hatching from the egg.





About Rice Moth

The rice moth has grayish brown forewings. The creamy white larvae start feeding on the seed immediately after they hatch.





Damage to Groundnut Kernels

The signs of damage can be easily recognized.

The presence of webbing indicates rice moth infestation.





Damage to Groundnut Kernels

The signs of damage can be easily recognized.

Powdery remnants of kernels (but no webbing) reveal red flour beetle infestation.





Management of Storage Pests

Maintenance of optimum moisture content (not >5%) is always critical in preventing the development of storage pests.

For protection against these 2 storage pests groundnuts should be stored unshelled.





Management of Storage Pests

If groundnuts are stored as seed, care should be taken to avoid breakage. Broken seeds should not be stored for long periods.

Dusting with an inert substance such as attapulgite-based clay dust (ABCD) can help to minimize storage insect problems.

With this, the Lesson 1 on Red Flour Beetle and Rice Moth in groundnut concludes.

Next, Lesson 2 is about Pod Sucking Bug in groundnut.

Select Lesson 2 in Module VI contents




About Red Flour Beetle and Rice Moth These two insects are common pests of shelled groundnuts...

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