**4.6 Grain and flour beetles**

The grain and flour beetles are very common stored grain pests feeding on almost all stored grains available throughout the world.

*4.6.1 Cadelle (*Tenebroides mauritanicus *(Linnaeus, 1758) Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae)*

*Distribution:* Cadelle is present in almost all parts of the world. *Host range:* its main host is grain and grain products.

*Bionomics:* Cadelle is the longest-lived pests, frequently found in granaries, mills, storehouses containing grains, flour, meal, pulses, etc. These are elongated flattened, oblong, black, or blackish beetle that resembles mealworms but, differ from them in size and body texture. These are smaller than mealworms and have loosely joined thorax and abdomen. Larvae are white, fleshy, long, with head, thoracic shield, having two black horny points on the abdomen, and are one of the largest of the stored grain pests. Both larvae and adults are very much destructive and move from grain to grain and devour the embryo.

*Damage symptoms*: It is a very serious pest of grains and bores inside wood for pupation. The presence of small holes in grains and in wood is the primary indication of its infestation.
