Cadelle beetle

Taxonomic position: The Cadelle beetle (Tenebroides bipustulatus) belongs to the order Coleoptera and the family Trogossitidae. It is a well-known pest of stored products, commonly found in granaries, flour mills, and warehouses worldwide, where it poses a significant threat to stored raw materials and finished food products.

Damaged crops: The beetle is highly polyphagous, attacking a vast array of agricultural commodities. Its primary hosts include cereal grains like wheat, maize, rice, and barley. Furthermore, it often infests processed items such as flour, oatmeal, bran, dried fruits, nuts, and even spice products, making it a critical concern for global food supply chains.

Biology and life cycle: The life cycle consists of the egg, larval, pupal, and adult stages. Females lay eggs in clusters within crevices of storage structures or directly into the infested substrate. The larvae are notably strong and aggressive, capable of boring into wooden structures of bins, which makes them difficult to eradicate completely. Development speed is heavily dictated by environmental factors like temperature and relative humidity.

Nature of damage and pest status: Both larvae and adults consume grain kernels, often focusing on the embryo, which renders the seed non-viable. Their feeding activity significantly reduces the nutritional value and marketability of grain. In addition to direct loss, they contaminate grain with frass, webbing, and cast skins, which promotes the growth of secondary microorganisms and lowers product hygiene standards.

• Sanitation of storage facilities by removing grain residues and dust.
• Implementing stringent temperature and humidity controls in grain bins.
• Using pheromone traps to detect and monitor beetle population levels.
• Applying professional fumigation to control severe infestations.
• Sealing storage containers to prevent the entry of beetles from external sources.