Lesser Grain Borer vs Meal Moth
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Lesser Grain Borer | Meal Moth |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Rhyzopertha dominica | Pyralis farinalis |
| Order | Coleoptera | Lepidoptera |
| Family | Bostrichidae | Pyralidae |
| Size | 2-3 mm | 10-14 mm body; 18-30 mm wingspan |
| Habitat | Gardens | Indoors |
| Diet | Seed Feeders | Seed Feeders |
| Regions | Worldwide tropical and subtropical regions | Worldwide |
| Conservation | Not Evaluated | Least Concern |
Lesser Grain Borer
A cylindrical dark brown beetle that bores into whole grain kernels, reducing them to powder. It is especially destructive in warm tropical grain stores.
Did You Know?
It produces a distinctive sweet, musty odor that can taint infested grain.
Meal Moth
A distinctive moth with olive and reddish-brown banded wings that infests stored grain and flour. Larvae live in silken tubes within infested food products.
Did You Know?
Its larval silk tubes can form dense mats in stored grain, binding the product into solid masses.