Stored Grain Insects |
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Hood spider beetle |
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Mezium affine
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Adult hood spider beetle (Mezium affine)
Courtesy of Degesch Inc.
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Description
The hood spider beetle (Mezium affine) is about 2 - 3.5 mm long, shiny brown and does not fly. The adults have biting mouthparts, a well developed thorax and 11 - segmented antennae. The head, grooved neck shield, legs and antennae are covered with yellow downy hair. Characteristics which give them a spider- like appearance include a stout body, a waist-like constriction at the base of the prothorax and 6 long thin legs with 5 - segmented tarsi. The larvae are hairy, grow up to 3.7 mm long, yellow-white in colour and have a curled shape. They are relatively immobile and make cocoon like feeding shelters.
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Larvae of hood spider beetle
Courtesy of Degesch Inc.
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Life cycle
The female hood spider beetle lays around 50 eggs loosely among the infested goods. The larvae pupates in a cocoon and all developmental stages can hibernate. The population growth rate is relatively slow and it is usually expected that only one generation is produced per year. In optimum conditions (30 - 33 ?C and 70 - 80% r.h.) the life cycle can be completed in 62 days. |
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Damage caused by hood spider beetle
Courtesy of Degesch Inc.
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Damage
Hood spider beetle larvae will infest all manner of dry animal and vegetable matter including broken grain or grain products, seeds, dried fruits or meats, wool, hair, feathers, rat and mouse droppings, insect and other animal remains, plant and animal museum specimens, books, dried mushrooms, animal feeds and sugar. The larvae bore holes in which to pupate, and in so doing may damage packaging or the commodities themselves. They also contaminate commodities with droppings and silk webbing. Adult beetles will also damage packaging including bags and sacks. Gregarious and nocturnal, they spend the day in cracks and crevices. |
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