Bug Identification Database

Grain Beetles

If you ever had whitish worms crawling up walls and across the ceiling in a kitchen or food storage area, chances were excellent they were indianmeal moth larvae, one of the more common stored product pests. Often an infestation is discovered when the full grown larvae (about 1/2 inch) leave their food source and wander around looking for places to pupate. Other common stored product pests include cigarette beetles, drugstore beetles, flour beetles and saw-toothed grain beetles. Grain moth larvae can be found in any type of grain, nut, fruit or cereal product.

Indian-meal moth larvae and adults.

Infested products can include bird seed, peanuts, pecans, dog food, candy, macaroni, breakfast cereal, corn meal, dried beans, etc. It is common to find drugstore and other beetles and weevils in the same infested food as the moth larvae.