This Caterpillar is a worldwide pest, particularly of stored grain and flour products. It is off-white with a brown head. The Caterpillar grows to a length of about 1 cm.

When one Caterpillar encounters another, they each produce a small amount of brown liquid from the mouth, containing kairomones that cause the Caterpillars to walk apart. This appears to be a mechanism that prevents overcrowding of the Caterpillars. The secretion also deters female moths from laying eggs in that vicinty. Unfortunately for the Caterpillars, this mandibular secretion also attracts parasitoid wasps such as the Ichneumonid Venturia canescens.

(Picture: courtesy of Casa Bernardo, Brasil)

The adult moths have a wingspan of about 1 cm. They are fawn coloured, with a fringe on the back of each hind wing. The adults also use ultrasonic sounds (~80 Khz) in their courtship behaviour.

The species occurs world-wide, and was introduced into Australia by unfortunate accident. It is found particularly in Tasmania.

Various strategies have been suggested to control it, for example :

using entomophagous nematodes.

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Further reading :

Ian F.B. Common,
Moths of Australia, Melbourne University Press, 1990, pp. 48, 350.

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