*4.6.17 Larger cabinet beetle (*Trogoderma granarium *Everts, 1898 Coleoptera: Dermestidae)*

*Distribution*: Larger cabinet beetle is mainly found in tropics and subtropics. It prefers to live in humid and high-temperature areas.

*Host range*: Being an external feeder it is only found on the surface of the grain. It is the main pest of wheat but, can also destroy jowar, rice, maize, sorghum, oilseeds, and pulses. These are also commonly found in beans, pumpkin seeds, gourd seeds, and many other grains.

*Bionomics*: The larger cabinet beetle is small, egg-shaped, with a black body mottled with reddish-brown, presence of hairs having gray and light brown color. The adult is usually oval in shape with gray and pale brown markings. The Head is primarily hidden under the hood like pronotum. Almost 100–120 eggs are laid by females after breeding. It takes 5–6 days for females to lay eggs after breeding. The larva is mainly brown in color, the whole body is covered by bundles of long, reddish-brown movable and erectile hair present on the posterior segments which form a sort of tail in the posterior end. First instar larva mainly feeds on broken grains and debris. The larval period persists up to 20–25 days, whereas the pupal period persists for 4–8 days. This pest is highly resistant to starvation. Although, this pest damages whole grain it primarily prefers germ portion due to which viability of seeds is lost long before any quantitative damage occurred. High infestation results in a reduction of whole grains to mere Fras. The larval stage is the devastating stage. Adults are non-feeders.

*Damage symptoms*: Only larvae are voracious feeders and feed on grain kernels. Holes of almost 1 mm diameter are seen on the grains. This pest imparts an extremely unhealthy appearance and unpleasant smell. Mostly the upper layer of the heap is severely damaged.

#### *4.6.18 Small cabinet beetle (*Trogoderma *sp. Coleoptera: Dermestidae)*

*Distribution*: Small cabinet beetles are restricted to warmer regions as well as tropical regions.

*Host range*: These are usually found in flour mills, granaries, and storehouses. *Bionomics:* The small cabinet beetle differs from the larger cabinet beetle in size and color. These are usually small and black with yellowish-white scales on the body. Eggs, as well as larvae, are found inside piercing and broken grains.

*Damage symptoms*: Grains on keen inspection can be seen soft inside and broken because of its presence.
