Genus Sitophilus - Granary Weevils

Classification · Explanation of Names · Numbers · Size · Identification · Range · Habitat · Food · Life Cycle · Remarks · Works Cited

Dryophthorine weevil - Sitophilus zeamais

Classification

Kingdom Animalia (Animals)

Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)

Class Insecta (Insects)

Order Coleoptera (Beetles)

Suborder Polyphaga (Water, Rove, Scarab, Longhorn, Leaf and Snout Beetles)

Superfamily Curculionoidea (Snout and Bark Beetles)

Family Curculionidae (Snout and Bark Beetles)

Subfamily Dryophthorinae

Tribe Rhynchophorini

Genus Sitophilus (Granary Weevils)

Explanation of Names

Sitophilus Schönherr 1838

Greek sitos (σιτος) 'grain' + philos (φιλος) 'loving'(1)

Numbers

5 spp. in our area, all adventive(2)

Size

2-5 mm

Identification

S. oryzae and S. zeamais, the two cosmopolitan spp. with maculate elytra, may be very hard to tell apart, and may form mixed infestations; S. oryzae are often smaller & paler than S. zeamais(3)

Range

worldwide and throughout NA(2)

Habitat

mostly indoors, but may infest grain in the field(3)

Food

They attack wheat, corn, oats, rye, barley, sorghum, buckwheat, dried beans, cashew nuts, wild bird seed, and cereal products, especially macaroni. - UFL

Life Cycle

Adults may live four to five months - UFL

Remarks

S. granarius (Grain Weevil), S. oryzae (Rice Weevil), and S. zeamais (Maize Weevil) are serious stored product pests(2); S. linearis (Tamarind Weevil) is a serious pest of tamarind in the Caribbean and se. US (FL, LA)(4)

Works Cited

1.	Composition of scientific words By R.W. Brown

2.	American Beetles, Volume II: Polyphaga: Scarabaeoidea through Curculionoidea By Arnett, R.H., Jr., M. C. Thomas, P. E. Skelley and J. H. Frank. (eds.)

3.	Insect and Mite Pests in Food, an Illustrated Key By J. Richard Gorham, editor

4.	Potentially invasive weevil species from the Caribbean countries to the United States, by M. Haseeb et al.

Contributed by Eric R. Eaton on 13 February, 2006 - 4:44pm
Additional contributions by Chuck Entz, Mike Quinn, v belov
Last updated 15 December, 2011 - 10:48am

Disclaimer: Dedicated naturalists volunteer their time and resources here to provide this service. We strive to provide accurate information, but we are mostly just amateurs attempting to make sense of a diverse natural world. If you need expert professional advice, contact your local extension office.

Contributors own the copyright to and are solely responsible for contributed content.
Click the contributor's name for licensing and usage information.
Everything else copyright © 2003-2012 Iowa State University, unless otherwise noted.

Bugguide is hosted by Iowa State University Entomology.

Printer Friendly Version