Seq # 490410020

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.

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