khapra beetle

The Khapra Beetle is found throughout Asia, Africa, the Middle East and Europe. It is almost identical to many species of beetles native to Australia, making it very difficult to identify.

What is the risk to Australia?

The Khapra Beetle feeds on dried plant and animal products with a preference for grain and stored products. This poses a serious risk to Australia’s grain storage industry and could jeopardise our export grain markets. Larvae can survive dormant for two or more years in unfavourable conditions.

What does the Khapra Beetle look like?

Adult beetles are reddish-brown, oval in shape and are about 2 to 3 millimetres long. They are covered in fine hairs that can rub off leaving the beetle shiny in appearance.

Adult females lay from 50 to 100 at eggs a time, which can produce up to nine generations a year. Larvae are typically very hairy, forming distinctive tufts over the body and a short ‘tail’ and range in size from 1.6 to 5 millimetres long. They are pale yellow when small and become golden-brown when they become larger. The larvae go through 4 to 7 moulting stages, leaving behind numerous cast skins.

What to look for

Larvae may remain hidden deep in stored food for relatively long periods. In bag stores, the first signs of infestation are masses of hairy cast larval skins, which gradually push out from crevices between goods such as sacks. Larvae then crawl over, consume and contaminate the grain.

What to do if you find any suspect Khapra Beetle

• SEE. SECURE. REPORT.
  
• If you SEE any suspect findings, SECURE them where possible and immediately REPORT them to AQIS on 1800 020 504.
  
• Consult AQIS entomologists prior to handling or collecting specimens.

More information

website
Phone: 1800 020 504 Freecall within Australia