Skip to main content

Lice & Mites

Stored Product Insects

Pests commonly found in food, also known technically as Stored Product Insects, covers a large number of insects. They can infest a variety of stored products in particular foodstuffs such as grains, cereals, dried fruit, nuts, seeds and even tobacco.

Stored grain insects are a health hazard in both private homes and businesses like food processing plants, warehouses, bakeries, stores, restaurants, mills, farms and silos. They can also cause enormous economic losses through damage and contamination of food products. Any contamination will make your food unfit for human consumption.

Identifying and removing the source of the infestation is a critical part of effectively controlling these pests. Businesses like food processing or grain storage can greatly benefit from an ongoing professional pest management program to contain and eradicate infestations along with high standards of hygiene and sanitation, including stock rotation practices in accordance with any applicable regulations.

Stored Product Pest Control Treatments for your business

Stored product pests often live within food for human consumption. In order to control insects within food, the food must be removed or destroyed in such a manner that it will not disperse the infestation, or treated in a way that presents no hazards in its end use.

Aerobeam Professional Pest Management can help your business with effective management, ensuring minimum disruption to your operation and full compliance with health and safety and any food legislation obligations.

Signs of a pests in food

Common signs of stored product insects include:

  • damage to store product, live or dead insects (small beetles and moths), larvae, pupae or silken webbing on food storage bins on shelves
  • infestation, holes, larvae or webbing on the outside of packets or bags
  • larvae, pupae or silken webbing in food harbourages in cracks and crevices around shelves or on machinery
  • larvae, pupae or silken webbing in food spillages
  • larvae, pupae or silken webbing on beams and window sills
  • Indications of the pests in insects traps or rodent stations

Where to find stored products insects

If you suspect a problem, it is also worth knowing where these pests may be hiding. Stored product insects can live in dried products such as:

  • Stored grain
  • Dried fruits
  • Milled and processed cereal products
  • Sweets
  • Cheese
  • Meat
  • Dry ginger
  • Dried fish and any other dried food

Booklice

Booklice identification

Adult — 1/16" - 1/8 in length. Humped thorax. Fine hairs cover the body. Elytra (wing cases) have ridges with indentations.
Larva — active in early stages of development. Bores into hard substances. They are able to detoxify some poisonous substances.

Description

Will often fly. Adults do not feed.

Life cycle — 200 days at 17°C, 70 days at 28°C. Adults live for 13 to 65 days.

Distribution
Australia-wide
  • Booklice
    Booklice
  • Booklice
    Booklice
  • Booklice
    Booklice

Cheese Mites

Cheese Mite identification
Cheese mites have soft, hairy cream white bodies with 8 hairless legs and adults grow up to an approximate 0.5mm in length.
Description

With a preference for old cheese to young cheese, these mites also feed on nuts, dried eggs, fruit, flour and tobacco. Cheese mites are capable of contaminating foods to cause skin or gut irritation.

The cheese mite favours warm, moist conditions and eggs mature in 10 days at room temperatures. Females can lay up to 900 eggs in a lifetime at a rate of 20 – 30 a day. Adult cheese mites can live for up to 60 – 70 days.

Distribution
Australia-wide.
  • Cheese Mites
    Cheese Mites
  • Cheese Mites
    Cheese Mites
  • Cheese Mites
    Cheese Mites

Flour Mite/Grain Mite

Flour Mite/Grain Mite identification
Adult — 0.5 mm long. 4 pairs of legs. White or pale brown. Slow moving. Larva — 6 legged and 0.5 mm long. White in colour. Passes through two, 8 legged nymphal stages.
Description

Under adverse conditions, may pass through a long and very resistant stage called a hypopus.

Lifecycle 9–11 days at 23°C and 90% relative humidity.
Distribution
Australia-wide.
  • Flour Mite/Grain Mite
    Flour Mite/Grain Mite

Furniture Mite

Furniture Mite identification
Adult – 0.3–0.7mm. Hairy soft cream–white body with yellow/brown legs.
Description

Capable of tainting foods and causing gut irritation. Commonly feeds on flour, cereals and fungi. Favours moist environmental conditions; common in damp poorly ventilated rooms.

Egg to adult in 22 days at room temperature. Adult lives for approximately 50 days.

Distribution
Australia-wide.
  • Furniture Mite
    Furniture Mite

Having trouble with stored product pests?

Call Aerobeam Professional Pest Management today for a obligation free quote!

Why Choose Aerobeam Professional Pest Management?

We offer a complete pest control and management service.
  • Obligation free quote
  • Over 25 years experience
  • Licensed Technicians
  • HACCP certified company
  • Thorough inspections
  • Professional prevention advice
  • Safe, targeted treatments
  • Environmentally friendly
  • Fast response
  • Regular inspections
  • Convenient treatment times
  • Ongoing support