Appearance:

Because they are very small, grain mites are usually only detected when the infestation is sever. The infested goods then appear to be covered with a moving layer of dust. The female is 0.5 mm and the male is 0.4 mm long; the body is transparent white aqnd sparsely covered with hair: the legs are pale violet. The addult mites have 4 pairs of legs, while the larvae have 3 pairs, like insects.

Life History:

Mass infestation by grain mites is only possible when the stored goods are very moist. A female deposits about 20 eggs. The white, six-footed larva is 0.15 mm long. Within a period of two weeks, it passes through two eight-legged nymphal stages before becoming an adult. Occasionally the mite passes through a long very resistant stage of development between the two nymphal stages, the so-called hypopus stage.

Distribution:

World-wide.

Damage:

Apart from grain and cereal foods, the mite also damages animal feeds, dried fruits, tobacco, etc. Infestation by mites leads not only to damage caused by feeding, but also produces a bad odor and rapid deterioration of foodstuffs.