This GRDC Back Pocket Guide is a practical field reference designed to help growers, grain handlers and storage managers quickly identify and manage common stored grain pests found in Australia. The guide provides clear photographs and easy-to-follow descriptions of major insect pests affecting stored grain, pulses and processed grain products, helping users recognise pests early before infestations become serious.
The publication covers a wide range of important storage pests including lesser grain borer, rust-red flour beetle, rice weevil, flat grain beetle, saw-toothed grain beetle, psocids (booklice), cowpea weevil, pea weevil, Angoumois grain moth, Indian meal moth and warehouse moth. For each pest, the guide outlines key identifying features, life cycle information, breeding conditions, grain types affected and recommended detection methods such as sieving and probe trapping.
The guide also highlights the growing issue of phosphine resistance in stored grain insects and explains how poor fumigation practices can contribute to resistance development. In addition, it includes information on exotic pests not currently present in Australia, including khapra beetle and Karnal bunt, encouraging early reporting of unusual detections to protect Australia’s grain industry.
Practical grain storage management advice is included throughout the guide, covering regular monitoring, hygiene, aeration cooling and effective fumigation practices using gas-tight sealable storages. The final sections provide instructions for sending insect samples for resistance testing and links to additional GRDC grain storage resources and support services.
