Grain Storage Mite Pests

Grain Storage Mites

Authors: Dr Manoj Nayak, DAF, Ecosciences Precinct, Dutton Park Brisbane

Introduction

Mites are common pests in grain storages and mostly occur in damp or moist grain, residues, oilseeds and animal feeds. They are not readily seen because they are the size of specks of dust. Mites are not insects (which have six legs) but are related to ticks and spiders and have eight legs.

  • When present in large numbers mites appear as a moving carpet of brown dust on the grain, silos and sheds or on stacks of commodities, sometimes emitting a damp or pungent smell. The mould mite Tyrophagus putrescentiae (Schrank) is the most common grain storage mite.
  • The grain or flour mite, Acarus siro is also widespread and sometimes the ‘straw-itch mite’, Pymotes tritici can cause problems in storages.
  • A predatory (and therefore, beneficial) species Chelyletus malaccensis Oudemans, is also encountered where the above species are present. Generally, 2-3 species are present in an infestation.

Grain Storage Mite Pests
Grain Storage Mite Pests
Above Top: Mould mite, or Lemon-scented mite (Tyrophagus putriscentiae). Approx. length: 0.5mm. Above Bottom: Mite infested mungbean.

Acknowledgements: The close-up image has been accessed from Systematic Entomology Laboratory, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture. www.sel.barc.usda.gov/acari/frames/mites.html, (accessed 15/05/2017).  Mungbean image Penny Borger DAF Qld. 2018

Biology

Mites multiply under high humidity conditions (over 65% relative humidity) and upper temperature limit of 35-37 DegC. Under these conditions, the common mould mite completes its life cycle in 8-12 days and a maximum population growth of 500 times per month can occur. Because of their rapid growth in warm, moist conditions, they usually reach peak numbers during late summer.

They are more common in the higher humidity of coastal regions than in drier inland areas. Infestations of mites are generally more conspicuous in commodities with high moisture content and contaminated with mould. Heavy infestation of other stored product pests often creates favorable conditions for mite outbreaks.

Damage

Both the mould and grain mites cause direct damage by eating the germ of the grain and spreading fungi in the commodities. Heavily infested commodity becomes tainted with off-flavours caused by squashed mite bodies when it is moved or processed.

During heavy infestation from the mould mite, the dead and live mites settle as a brownish dust layer on stacks of commodities and floors of stores and emit a lemon-flavoured odour leading to the popular name ‘Lemon-scented mite’. In this situation, they can cause discomfort to workers handling infested grain and packaged commodities. The ‘straw-itch mite’ can cause severe dermatitis and allergic conditions in people handling infested commodities. Infested feedlots are also been reported to have caused feeding problems and allergic conditions in stock. The markets reject heavily infested commodities.

Recommendations for controlling mites

Control starts with hygiene

Strict hygiene practices in and around grain or produce storage and handling areas are essential for control:

  • Remove and destroy unwanted, infested produce by burning or burying.
  • If infested produce is to be kept, fumigate as described below.
  • Clean up and destroy grain dust and grain residues at least weekly.
  • Clean grain storages and handling equipment before handling new uninfested produce.

Insecticide treatment

Methoprene (eg, Rizacon S®, IGR®), is currently registered as a stored grain treatment for insect control and is known to be effective against these mites.

A pyrethrum insecticide product, (eg Pestigas®)

Spinosad (eg Conserve Plus®), can also control these mites.

Commonly used protectant insecticides that are known to be ineffective against these mites are: pyrimiphos-methyl (eg Actellic®), chlorpyrifos-methyl (eg Reldan®) and fenitrothion (numerous trade names).

Manage Temperature and Moisture

Because of their need for warm, moist conditions, mite numbers can be kept low by:

  • reducing temperature below 20 DegC, for example by aeration, or
  • reducing moisture below 55% relative humidity or 12% moisture for cereal grains, for example by drying.

Disinfest with phosphine fumigation

Fumigation with phosphine will kill mites only if it is done in a sealed, gas-tight storage. Dosages lower than recommended on the label often allow mite eggs to survive during the fumigation. Reinfestation due to subsequent hatchings can then occur after the fumigation period is over.

Apply 1.5 tablets per cubic metre and leave the enclosure sealed for 7 days if temperature of the produce is above 25 DegC, or for 10 days at lower temperatures. Air the treated produce before it is handled.

Pest identification problems?

If you are in doubt about the identification of insect or mite pests in stored products, please send live specimens to Dr Manoj Nayak, Postharvest Grain Protection Team, Ecosciences Precinct, 3C West, 41 Boggo Road, Dutton Park, QLD 4102. Please be sure to include your full contact details, and details of any treatment the pests may have had.

Further information

1800WEEVIL

www.storedgrain.com.au

DPI&F note: Grain Storage Identification of insect pests

stored grain pest mites

Grain Storage Identification of insect pests

Ken Bullen, DPI&F, Plant Science, Toowoomba, Qld..

Why identify stored grain pests ?

Most insect control methods for stored grain work against all species. So you don’t need to identify the storage pests to make decisions about most control methods. But if you intend spraying grain with insecticides you may need to know which species are present if:

  • a previous application has failed and you want to know whether resistance was the reason – if more than one species survived, resistance is unlikely to be the cause
  • you intend using a residual protectant to treat infested grain – pyrimiphos-methyl, fenitrothion and chlorpyrifos-methyl are ineffective against lesser grain borer, and pyrimiphos-methyl and fenitrothion are generally ineffective against sawtoothed grain beetle
  • you intend using dichlorvos to treat infested grain – if lesser grain borer is present you need to apply the higher dose rate Insecticide sprays are not registered for oilseeds and pulses, so identification of pests in those grains is not so important.

Common species

Cereal grains

Cereal grains include wheat, barley, oats, triticale, sorghum and millets. The most common insect pests of stored cereal grains in Australia are:

  • Weevils: (Sitophilus spp.). Rice weevil is the most common weevil in wheat in Australia
  • Lesser Grain Borer: (Rhyzopertha dominica)
  • Rust Red Flour Beetle: (Tribolium spp.) • Sawtooth Grain Beetle: (Oryzaephilus spp.)
  • Flat Grain Beetle: (Cryptolestes spp.). See images in this DPI&F Note. Another dozen or so beetles, moths, psocids (booklice), and mites are sometimes present as pests in stored cereal grain.

Oilseeds

Oilseeds include canola, linseed, safflower and sunflower. The most common pests in stored oilseeds are:

  • Flour beetles
  • Sawtoothed grain beetle
  • Moths of various species. See images in this DPI&F Note.

Pulses

Pulses include: faba beans, chickpea, cowpea, field pea, mung bean, navy bean, soybean, pigeon pea. The most common insect pests of stored pulses are Bruchid beetles, and moths. See images in this DPI&F Note.

Weevils

Weevils – the Rice weevil (Sitophilus oryzae) is the most common weevil in wheat in Australia. Major pest of whole cereal grain and some solid cereal products, eg, pasta. Destroys grain directly and through heating. Approx. length adult: 3.5 – 4.0mm; Life cycle: 25 days@30°C & 70% r.h., 25 days; Population growth up to 25 x in a month; Eggs laid singly in prepared hole in grain; develops concealed within the grains; Adults fly & walk long distances; adults can walk up glass surfaces. Resistances to protectant OP insecticides is rare, phosphine resistance widespread, no known resistance to dichlorvos; can not be controlled with phosphine in unsealed silos.

Lesser Grain Borer ID

Lesser grain borer (Rhyzopertha dominica). Major pest of whole cereal grains, most serious in hot dry conditions; Resistance to OP insecticides – common; head invisible when viewed from above; approx. adult length 2.5 – 3.0mm; resistance to phosphine fumigation, strong and widespread; resistance to methoprene protectant insecticide is increasing, susceptible to new spinosad insecticide (available in 2006-07), resistance to dichlorvos is common; adults bore through grains; max. population growth rate per month 20x; larvae lives concealed in grain or flour; adults are strong fliers.

Red Rust Flour Beetle

Red rust flour beetle (Tribolium castineum). Major pest of stored grains and milled products; approx. adult length 3.5=4.0mm; survives very dry conditions; max. population growth rate per month 70x; larvae not concealed in grains; adults strong fliers; resistance to protectant OP insecticides is rare, no known resistance to dichlorvos, strong resistance to phosphine fumigant found in C.Q.

Sawtooth Grain Beetle

Sawtooth grain beetle (Oryzaephilus surinamensis). Major pest of stored grains and other stored products; approx. adult length 3.0mm; max. population growth rate per month 50x; Strong resistance to phosphine found in D. Downs, strong resistance to protectant OP insecticides is common, no known resistance yet to dichlorvos; adult feeds, flies, and walks long distances; adults can walk up glass surfaces.

Flat Grain Beetle

Flat grain beetle (Cryptolestes spp.). Important pest of stored grains and other stored products; adults very flat, antennae very long and hair-like; approx. adult length 3.0mm;resistance to protectant OP insecticides is untested, strong resistance to phosphine fumigant on Darling Downs and in Biloela district; max. population growth rate per month 55x; adults long lived, feeds, flies and walks rapidly.

Psocids bookline

Psocids – or booklice (Liposcelis spp.). Pronounced ‘so-kids’; important pest in grain storages in Australia; very tiny – about 1.0mm long; infest a wide range of stored grains and other commodities; appear as a ‘moving carpet of dust’ on grain; thrive under warm moist conditions, max. population growth rate per month 25x. Life cycle 21 days under ideal conditions; ‘secondary’ feeders, living on damaged grain etc., can cause heating of grain; huge infestations spread to structures and cause worker discomfort; if protectant insecticides fail to control psocids, expert identification of species involved is advisable; For further detail refer to special DPI&F

Mites

Mites (various species). Common pests in stored grains; occur mostly in damp or moist grain; Mould mite or Lemon-scented mite (Tyrophagus putriscentiae) – very tiny, about 0.5mm long. Appear as a moving carpet of brown dust on grains, bags, structures and floors; large populations may emit a pungent smell; life cycle is 8-12 days under ideal conditions, max. population growth rate per month 500x; more conspicuous at high moisture mouldy conditions. Feeding damages grains, promotes mould growth, imparts an ‘off’ odour, and may cause severe discomfort and dermatitis in workers. Protectant OP and methoprene insecticides not effective; resistance to dichlorvos untested; no known resistance to new spinosad protectant insecticide (on market 2006-07). Phosphine fumigation will only be successful if done in sealed, gas-tight storages.

Indian Meal Moth
Indian Meal Moth
(Plodia interpunctella). adults’ wings are bicoloured cream & brown, length approx. 8.0-9.0mm, larvae creamy white, approx. 12mm long; major pest in flour mills, processing plants etc., webbing produced by larvae can block machinery; max. population growth rate per month 60x; adult does not feed; active at dusk and dawn.

Angoumois Grain Moth
Angoumois grain moth
(Citotroga cerealella), and grain damage. Smaller than other storage moth pests, adults 5.0-6.0mm long; pest of whole cereal grains, will attack grains before harvest, esp. maize. Infests only surface layer of bulk-stored grains, adult unable to penetrate deeply. Max. population growth rate per month 50x. Larvae develop concealed in a single grain; adult moth does not feed. No known resistance to protectant OP’s, or new spinosad insecticide. Not susceptible to methoprene.

Cowpea Soybean Bruchid
Cowpea Bruchid
(Callosobruchus spp) in mungbean & Soybean Bruchid (Bruchidius mackenzii) in soybean. Bruchids are a major and increasing pest of pulse crops in Australia. In Northern region, Cowpea bruchid is a major problem to the mungbean industry. Adults are small, about 3.0mm long, with a tear-shaped body. Eggs are easily visible, white and laid on surface of individual beans. Larvae develop within the seeds, from where they emerge as adults, leaving a perfectly round hole in seeds. Adults are strong fliers and lay about 100 eggs in their 10-12 day lifespan. The soybean bruchid is now becoming more widespread in the soybean industry.

NOTE: For more detail on bruchid pests, see ‘Bruchids in Mungbeans and Other Pulse Crops – A Major Threat to the Pulse Grains Industry’

Acknowledgements:

  • Insect drawings used above sourced from Degesch America Inc..
  • Some text regarding species above was sourced from, ‘Insects of Stored Grain – A Pocket Reference’, David Rees, (1994), Stored Grains Research Laboratory, CSIRO Division of Entomology, GPO Box 1700, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia

Distinguishing between the common grain beetles

You can use a clean glass container as a simple test for identifying grain beetles. Put the live grain insects into a warm glass container (above 20oC so they are active, but not over 40oC or they will die). Weevils and sawtoothed grain beetles can walk up the walls of the glass easily, but flour beetles and lesser grain borer cannot. If you look closely at the insects walking up the glass, weevils have a curved snout at the front but sawtoothed grain beetles do not. Distinguishing between the species that can’t walk up the glass is more difficult. Lesser grain borers are cylindrical, dark brown and usually have their head tucked under their body.

Flour beetles and flat grain beetles are flatter, copper-brown, and their head usually protrudes in front of their body. Flat grain beetles are usually small, ant-like with long antennae. Flour beetles are larger with short antennae. Drawings of the common beetle pests and the steps in identifying them are shown on the next page. Most of the beetles other than the common species look something like the flour beetles, and should not be confused with the lesser grain borer if you know what the borer looks like.

Identification of common beetle pests of stored grain. Follow the steps from left to right

Identification of common beetle pest

Further information

You can find colour pictures and some information on insect pests of stored grain in:

  • ‘Insects of stored grain: a pocket reference’ by David Rees. CSIRO Division of Entomology (1994). The book is available from The Librarian, Stored Grain Research Laboratory, GPO Box 1700, Canberra ACT 2601, Tel 02 6246 4201, Fax 02 6246 4202.
  • ‘Insect pests of field crops in colour’ Queensland Department of Primary Industries Q18 3006 (1983). The book is available from DPI&F Client Service Centres
  • The entomology section of the AgWest web site http://www.agric.wa.gov.au.
  • See the DPI&F Note ‘Grain Storage – Insect control in stored grain’, – www.dpi.qld.gov.au/fieldcrops/3947 for information on control methods.
  • ‘Bruchids in Mungbeans and other Pulse Crops – a Major Threat to the Pulse Grains Industry’, by Hugh Brier, Pat Collins, Phil Burrill and Mike Lucy, Ken Bullen, DPI&F.
  • DPI&F website www.dpi.qld.gov.au/fieldcrops/3947  – for a comprehensive range of useful Notes on Grain Storage management on-farm
  • DPI&F Call Centre open from 8.00am to 6.00pm Monday to Friday (telephone 13 25 23 for the cost of a local call within Queensland; interstate callers 07 3404 6999) or email callweb@dpi.qld.gov.au Or, phone one of the National Grain Storage Extension Team
    • Qld Peter Hughes or Ken Bullen 07 4688 1200
    • Qld Philip Burrill 07 4660 3620
    • Vic. Peter Botta 03 5761 1647
    • SA Peter Fulwood 08 8568 6422
    • WA Chris Newman 08 9366 2309
    • NSW John Cameron 02 9482 4930