• Grubs and adults cause damage and are voracious feeders.
• Adults reduce the grain kernels to mere frass.
• Grubs eat their way into the grain or feed on the grain dust and are capable of attacking grain externally.

Identification of the pest

• Egg - Eggs are laid on the surface or on the interstices of cereal grains singly or in clusters.
• Grub - White, apodous with brown head, free living upto 3rd instar.
• Pupa - Grub enters the grain after 3rd instar for pupation.
• Adult - Brown to blackish beetle, head is deflexed down wards below prothorax to such an extent that it is almost hidden in a dorsal view. Antenna clubbed with large loose three segments.