Hairy fungus beetle

Classification

Secondary pest; Fungus feeder
Order: Coleoptera
Family: Mycetophagidae
Acronym: TST

Description

• Adults are uniformly light brown, oval and slightly flattened, 2 to 3 mm long.
• Elytra are covered with parallel lines of fine hairs.
• Antennae are 3 segmented and the head is readily visible from above, distinguishing the hairy fungus beetle from some similar species.
• Larvae are whitish to yellowish with a visible head capsule and dark urogomphi.
• Larvae are elongate and somewhat flattened with well-developed legs.

Similar species

• Silken fungus beetles (Cryptophagus spp, Atomaria spp.)
• Spotted hairy fungus beetle (Mycetophagus quadriguttatus)
• Cigarette beetle (Lasioderma serricorne)
• Drugstore beetle (Stegobium paniceum)

Commodities affected

• Stored grain, seeds, tobacco, nuts

Signs of infestation

• Is associated with mouldy or damp grain

Damage

• Beetle is a generalist feeder.
• Damage is not distinctive and is caused by both adult and larval feeding.
• Beetle’s presence in stored grain indicates poor storage conditions.

How to control

• Control grain insect pests

Geographic range

• Is found worldwide and across Canada

Where found

• Feeds on damaged grain and is associated with mould
• Is found in warehouses, stores, flour mills, feed mills, granaries
• May be found on ripening crops prior to harvest such as hay and cereal grains
• Is also found in corn fields and may be associated with decaying ears of corn

Life history

• Adults are long lived and fly readily.
• Females lay eggs randomly within the commodity.
• Larvae are active moving freely in the commodity.