2. Distribution:-Present worldwide . In Indian sub-continent
the pest is more abundant in the areas where the climate
is rather mild.
Host range:-Wheat,maize,sorghum,barley and oats are
the main grains crops infested.
3. Biology:-Eggs laid singly or in batches on or near grain.
Small and white when freshy laid then turning reddish later on
A full grown larva is about 5mm.long with white body and
yellow-brown head.
Larva constructs a silken cocoon in a cavity made during
feeding and turning into reddish brown pupa.
4.
5. Adult:-The adult is buff,grey-yellow,brown or straw coloured
moth.
It measuring about 10-12mm.in wing expanse.
Wings are narrow pointed fringed with long hairs.
6. Life cycle:-Breeding takes place from April to october.
• It hibernate in winter in the larval stage.
• It pupate in spring.After emergence,moth mate within
24hrs.
• A female lays 150 eggs on an average after one week of
mating.
7. • The incubation period is about 4-8 days in summer.
• Larval stage may last about 3 weeks.
• Pupal stages is of one to two weeks.
• Female adults have a longer life-span then males. It
completes life cycle in 7 weeks in active season and many
generations in a year.
8. Damage:-Damage is maximum in monsoon season.
• Larva bores into grain and feed onto the contents.
• About 30-50% of contents are consumed.
• Infested grains give out an unpleasent smell.
• In a heap of grain,upper layer is more affected and each
grain being covered with scales shed from the moth.
10. Management:-Grain should be properly dried upto moisture
12-14%.
• Don’t mix old grain with new grains.
• Proper senitation of storage system.
• Treat storage with Malathion 50EC at 5ml/20Lt of water.
• Grain treatment with Malathion or fumigation with
Aluminium phosphite.
