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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Beetles (Coleoptera) » Polyphaga » Bostrichoidea » Horned Powder-post Beetles (Bostrichidae) » Dinoderinae » Rhyzopertha » Lesser Grain Borer (Rhyzopertha dominica)

Species Rhyzopertha dominica - Lesser Grain Borer

Rhyzopertha dominica (Fab.) - Rhyzopertha dominica

Classification

Kingdom Animalia (Animals)

Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)

Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)

Class Insecta (Insects)

Order Coleoptera (Beetles)

Suborder Polyphaga

Superfamily Bostrichoidea

Family Bostrichidae (Horned Powder-post Beetles)

Subfamily Dinoderinae

Genus Rhyzopertha

Species dominica (Lesser Grain Borer)

Synonyms and other taxonomic changes

Rhyzopertha dominica (Fabricius)

Orig. Comb: Synodendron dominica Fabricius, 1792

Size

2-3 mm

Range

across Canada (NS-BC)(1) and throughout the grain-producing areas of the US(2) - Map (3), mostly ne. US, & Great Plains to Panama / W. Indies. native to tropical Asia, now cosmopolitan(4)

Habitat

mainly confined to heated buildings in the temperate regions(2)

Food

serious pest of both whole kernel stored grain and cereal products

Life Cycle

Larvae develop in whole grain and remain within the kernel through 4-5 instars; on wholemeal there are 2–7 instars(5)

Remarks

Commonly infests flour, macaroni, beans, chickpeas, seeds, edible bulbs, grains, sometimes wood; damage can be considerable because adults and larvae feed on the surface and interior of grains. Adults readily fly but their flight is not well oriented, and air currents carry them.(5)

Print References

Howe, R.W. (1950) The development of Rhizopertha dominica (F.) (Col., Bostrichidae) under constant conditions. Entomol. Mon. Mag. 86: 15.

Potter, C. (1935) The biology and distribution of Rhizopertha dominica (Fab.). Transactions of the Royal Entomological Society of London, 83: 449–482.

Internet References

Fact sheets: Koehler & Pereira (1994-2012)(6)

Purdue - Linda J. Mason

Works Cited

1.	The Derodontidae, Dermestidae, Bostrichidae, and Anobiidae of the Maritime Provinces of Canada (Coleoptera: Bostrichiformia) C.J. Majka. 2007. Zootaxa 1573: 1–38.

2.	Beetles associated with stored products in Canada: An identification guide Bousquet Y. 1990. Research Branch Agriculture Canada, Publication 1837.

3.	Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF)

4.	Coleoptera families other than Cerambycidae, Curculionidae sensu lato, Chrysomelidae sensu lato and Coccinelidae -- Chapter 8.5 Denux O., Zagatti P. 2010. BioRisk 4: 315–406.

5.	Handbook of urban insects and arachnids: A handbook of urban entomology Robinson W.H. 2005. Cambridge University Press.

6.	EDIS -- Electronic Data Information Source of UF/IFAS Extension

Contributed by Phillip Harpootlian on 25 November, 2008 - 4:16pm
Additional contributions by Beatriz Moisset, Mike Quinn, v belov
Last updated 8 August, 2024 - 12:48pm

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