Sawtoothed grain beetle
Oryzaephilus surinamensis
Description
The sawtoothed grain beetle — officially called silvano surinamense in Italian — (Oryzaephilus surinamensis) is a small, slender, brown beetle measuring 2.5–3.5 mm, recognised by six tooth-like projections on each side of its thorax. It is a very common secondary pest of stored products.
It attacks cereals and cereal products, flour, dried fruit, seeds and goods already damaged by other insects. It easily enters packaging and spreads rapidly through pantries and warehouses.
Key characteristics
2.5–3.5 mm
Slender, brown, thorax with “teeth”
Cereals, flour, dried fruit, seeds
Secondary pest, enters packaging
Rapid in pantries and warehouses
Risks and spread
The sawtoothed grain beetle contaminates and damages stored goods, spreading easily between packets.
- Contaminated supplies — Damages cereals, flour and dried fruit, making them unusable.
- Easy spread — Enters packaging and spreads rapidly to nearby stock.
- Food businesses — Compromises hygiene standards in warehouses and food businesses.
Prevention
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1
Store food supplies in airtight containers
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2
Clean shelves, cracks and residues where it hides
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3
Rotate stock and check incoming products
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4
Discard infested packets immediately
Our intervention
TIsistemo locates the source, clears the infestation and monitors storage areas.
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Identifying the source Finding affected packets and breeding areas.
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Clearance Removing infested products and careful cleaning.
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Targeted treatment Specific treatments and traps where necessary.
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Monitoring Regular checks to avoid new infestations.
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