Khapra Beetle Training: Recognition and Detection Charles F. Brodel Collateral National Coleoptera Specialist Miami, FL October, 2011
Insect Pin Hand lens 10X
Insect Pin Hand lens 10X Insect Pin Hand lens 20X
Insect Pin Hand lens 10X Insect Pin Stereomicroscope 112.5X Insect Pin Hand lens 20X
Khapra Beetle Hand lens 10X Khapra Beetle Stereomicroscope 112.5X Khapra Beetle Hand lens 20X
Khapra Beetle Trogoderma granarium Everts ca. 50-60X
Khapra beetle adult-- about 1/8 th inch long
Recognizing Dermestid Adults
Adults NOT Khapra Beetle If Have: Metallic coloration
Adults NOT Khapra Beetle If Have: Metallic coloration Beak
Adults NOT Khapra Beetle If Have: Metallic coloration Beak Flattened, elongate body
Silvanidae: Oryzaephilus
Adults NOT Khapra Beetle If Have: Metallic coloration Beak Flattened, elongate body Clearly divided body segments
Adults NOT Khapra Beetle If Have: Metallic coloration Beak Flattened, elongate body Clearly divided body segments Longer than 3 mm (1/8 th inch)
Your find MIGHT be. a dermestid A N D Trogoderma as well.. IF
Head is not visible from above Has unbroken ellipsoid or ovate shape Is convex (length: height ratio is small) Is hairy over upper surface
Dermestids Have Ellipsoid or Ovate Body Outline Trogoderma Trogoderma
Cleridae Length: Height Ratios Silvanidae ca. 5.5 Dermestidae: Trogoderma ca. 2 Curculionidae ca. 3
Cleridae Length: Height Ratios Bostrichidae ca. 3 Tenebrionidae ca. 3 ca. 4
and.. Does not have a metallic color Does not have a beak Is not flattened from top to bottom Does not have clearly divided body segments
Anobiidae can be confused with Dermestidae Unbroken ellipsoid shape, head not visible, hairy upper surface
Length: height ratio = ca. 2, same as for Trogoderma
Like Trogoderma, anobiids --- Have unbroken ellipsoid or ovate shape Sometimes have length: height ratio of 2 Sometimes have dorsal surface hairy Have head not visible from above
Anobiids have antennal clubs with loose-fitting segments Trogoderma (Dermestidae) has antennal clubs with compacted segments Drugstore Beetle Cigarette Beetle Trogoderma
Should you submit specimens that look like dermestids but might not be?
Should you submit specimens that look like dermestids but might not be? YES!!
Recognizing Dermestid Larvae
Dermestidae
Sclerotized tergal plates on dorsum 33
3 pairs of segmented legs
Bands, clusters, or tufts of long and short setae/scales of various types 35
Other Beetles Possibly Found Infesting Similar Commodities
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Curculionidae: Sitophilus 1 Infests stored grain, processed food products, and seeds
Cleridae: Red-legged Ham Beetle 2 Infests stored products like cocoa beans and oilcake
Tenebrionidae: Tribolium Beetle 3 Infests grains, grain products, and dried foods
Bostrichidae: Rhizopertha dominica 4 Infests stored grains, dried roots, and seeds
5 Dermestidae: Khapra Beetle Infests all stored plant products and a few animal products
Silvanidae: Oryzaephilus 6 Infest grains, cereal products, dried fruits, nuts, candy, food products
7 Anobiidae: Cigarette Beetle, Furniture Beetles Infest stored herbs, bulbs, and seeds, upholstered furniture
Anthrenus Trogoderma
Body with hastisetae 52
Trogoderma granarium: single hastiseta (600X)
Anthrenus Tufts of hastisetae in tight bundles that almost overlap Trogoderma Tufts of hastisetae loose, not bundled
Cast skins from molts: split down middle of dorsum, showing sclerotized plates; head capsule sometimes absent; hastisetae usually visible in low numbers
Biology/ Biological Factors
Life Cycle (26 to 220 days/cycle) Egg (on host) Larva (5-11 instars) Adult Pupa (in last larval cast skin)
Hosts Primarily in dry stored products of vegetable origin: seeds, herbs, spices, nuts, dried fruits, gums In some animal products like milk powder, skins, dried dog food, dead insects, dried blood Whole grains attacked (unusual for Trogoderma) by 3 rd instar larvae and older, but adults not known to feed
KB larvae feed on seed germ first, then endosperm, and outer coat irregularly
KB eats glues and gums used in crafts
Khapra beetle in cucurbit seed from Iraq
Conditions for Establishment Does best in HOT, DRY conditions -- out-competed by other stored product pests like Sitophilus and Rhizopertha in cool or hot, humid conditions
KB can probably establish -- outdoors in locations with avg monthly temps 68 F or higher for >6 months of the year AND where humidity level usually below 50% -- in warehouses with climate control anywhere in the continental U.S.
Survival Larvae become inactive at about 41 F or below, preventing development and reproduction. Some larvae have genes enabling them to survive cold or dry periods, lack of food, or fumigants. Environmental triggers: Low or high temps Lack of food Larval respiration drops markedly Tolerance (9 mos. to 6 yrs) to: temps as low as 14 F fumigants lack of food
Dispersal Adults have wings but are unable to fly Membranous wing of KB Movement most aided by human activities like trade and travel
Important Behaviors Larvae most active at dawn and dusk Larvae excel at hiding Larvae consume dead adults Adults do not feed, live less long, and are most likely present only when conditions for reproduction are best
Detection
Entry Pathways Seaports o Container shipments o Personal effects shipments o Ships stores o Crew quarters Airports o Passenger baggage o Passenger cargo o Mail
1. Physical and Visual Search Mainstays of visual inspections: --- Human eyesight --- 10X or 14X loupe
Aspirator Camel s hair brush Camera Clean, empty vials with alcohol Flashlight Forceps (soft) Hand vacuum Knife Loupe (10X 14X) Mirror Probe Ruler Sieves (1,2,3-mm mesh) Seed Trier
Adults and Larvae of KB with Grain Cast Skins of KB
Grain shipments--- Sieves are important when nothing found with visual inspection Disadvantage: Sieving damages or destroys dead adults and cast skins, making ID difficult or impossible
Small populations can occur in commodity residues, especially grains, on container floor or in ship stores Inactive larvae might be found in cracks and crevices. Handheld vacuum might be useful here.
Hand vacuum can easily gather a sample to be examined later Useful when residual host commodities like rice, corn, and other grains from KB origins are detected on container floor
Seed or grain triers can be useful in ship holds and grain storage facilities to sample for KB. Potential problem if insects not evenly distributed in commodity.
Maritime shipments of KB commodities: --Visual inspection --Use of sieves
Determining number and type of bags used by each shipper from KB-infested origin -- Knife to open bags -- Loupe to inspect grains for feeding damage and contents for beetles, parts of beetles, and cast skins
How can bags play a role in KB entry? Residual KB-infested commodities can exist in reused bags KB seeks shelter in such items as bags and corrugated cardboard
Number of layers per bag and types of bag can vary in a shipment
Maritime Shipments of grains and beans: Inspect inside seams and pockets of bags, especially reused burlap bags Adequate light important
Do KB-infested commodities emit odors that dogs can be trained to detect in airport passenger bags and mail?
Scanners might be used to detect commodities from certain origins known to be infested with KB, thereby reducing number of passengers required to open bags for inspection
KB will usually accompany a commodity, not hitchhike, but larvae escaped from contained commodity inside luggage might be found on lining, behind folds in lining, or even behind lining
2. Monitoring -- Warehouses -- Ship s stores (unrefrigerated)
Larvae can be trapped using --- Foods (e.g., oil seeds, peanuts, wheat germ) --- Attractants (e.g., wheat germ oil) Adults can be trapped using --- Pheromones
Dome shape for floor: many design variations of this trapping concept
Pheromone within a trap that can be hung or placed on floor; mostly for flying insects; nondrying glue used to trap beetles; disadvantage= not specific to KB