Cadelle

Classification

Primary pest; grain feeder
Order: Coleoptera
Family: Trogossitidae
Acronym: TMAu

Description

• Adults are shiny black to brown beetles that range in size from 6 to 11 mm.
• Larvae are whitish in colour with a black head, thoracic shield and urogomphi.
• Larvae reach a length of up to 19 mm.
• Larvae are active in the food.

Similar species

• Dermestes species
• Alphitobius species
• Yellow mealworm (Tenebrio molitor)

Commodities affected

• Grains, nuts, flour and other grain products, dried fruit, spices

Signs of infestation

• No specific signs, unless holes are found in surrounding structures, indicating presence of larvae

Damage

• Signs of damage to commodity cannot be easily related to this species.
• Larvae preferentially attack germ, and can cause damage to wooden structures and plaster.

How to control

• Control grain insect pests

Geographic range

• Is distributed worldwide
• Is distributed across Canada through all provinces

Where found

• Is a common pest in flour mills, granaries, ships, elevators, warehouses and stores
• May also be a pest in farm-stored grain and homes
• Is usually associated with aged residues
• Larvae can burrow into wooden structures or plastered walls, causing structural damage that provides hiding places for other stored-product pests.

Life history

• Females lay eggs in batches of 10 to 60 in the food supply.
• Cadelles prey on other stored-product insects.
• Larvae and adults will also eat holes in flour sacks, food cartons and bolting cloth.