Angoumois Grain Moth in sorghum

The female moth  can lay up to 400 eggs.

The eggs are deposited rather indiscriminately on or between the grains, on the panicle in the field, or on the threshing floor or in storage. The eggs are white and oval, but soon turns bright red. They hatch within a week. The tiny larva crawls about searching for a comparatively weak spot through which it enters the grain and feeds on the internal contents. The larval period is 2-3 weeks.

 

Infestation can begin in the field. In storage, the infestation is confined to the upper layer of the grain and infested grain is completely hollowed out and filled with larval excreta or webbing.

Management

The weakest aspect in the life cycle of this pest is the requirement of high moisture-content in the grain. Hence, its damage can be kept to a minimum by maintaining grain moisture below 12%. Fumigation is effective in controlling this pest.