Scientific name: Cadra cautella
Distribution
Worldwide, warm temperate to tropical.
Pest Type
Secondary pest
Identification
Adults: Wingspan of 20–25 mm. Labial palps are short and curved upwards. Wings are white to pink in colour with black spots.
Life Cycle
At optimum conditions of 30 ℃ temperature and 75% relative humidity, the life cycle will be completed in 26 days. The eggs are laid loosely in commodities. Larvae are external feeders and produce silk webbing. Adults are short-lived, fly, and do not feed.
Commodities attacked
Dried plant materials, especially cereal products, oilseeds, cocoa, chocolate, species, nuts, dried fruit, and processed foods.
Economic importance
Of high importance, especially in processed goods, mills and food factories, also in storage facilities for grains in warm climates.