Ephestia kuehniella Zeller, 1879 Species
Last modified: April 28, 2024, 9:12 a.m.
Originally from India, this species was first found in Europe in about 1877. Nowadays it is a widespread, but local and rather rare species in Belgium. It is often a pest of stored products, especially in flour mills and large bakeries.
Details
- Classification
- Family: Pyralidae > Subfamily: Phycitinae > Tribus: Phycitini > Genus: Ephestia > Species: Ephestia kuehniella
- Vernacular names
- Grauwe meelmot (NL), Mehlmotte (DE)
- First mention in Belgium
- De Crombrugghe G. 1906a. Catalogue raisonné des Microlépidoptères de Belgique. — Mémoires de la Société entomologique de Belgique XIII: 1–172; XIV: 1–155. On page 21 (as Ephestia Kuehniella Z.). view page
- Status
-
Native
Distribution
Imago
Museum specimens
Specimens in nature
Genitalia
Bionomics
The larva lives in a sliken tube on flour. It also occurs on other stored vegetable products or on dead insects. It hibernates. It pupates in a tough silken cocoon attached to a solid object near its food.
Flight periods
The adults have been observed from April till October and are most often found indoors were they can be found year round.
Observed on
- Substrates:
- Stored products (grain, rice, nuts, etc.)
The larva feed on stored products such as grain, rice, nuts, flour etc..., but also on dead insects.
