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Pest guide

Merchant grain beetle

Oryzaephilus mercator

Do you need a pest-control professional?

It depends

Whether professional treatment is needed depends on the extent and circumstances. Possible response: Inspect food, discard infested products and clean.

Potential harm

Damages nuts, almonds, seeds and breakfast cereals

What to expect

Possible response: Inspect food, discard infested products and clean. If you are unsure of the species, call and describe what you found before deciding what to do.

Not sure? Call and describe it. Identification by phone is free.

Illustration: Merchant grain beetle (Oryzaephilus mercator), whole animal on a light background.
Oryzaephilus mercator (Merchant grain beetle)Based on a photo by: Erling Ólafsson, Náttúrufræðistofnun Íslands

About this species

This entry covers Merchant grain beetle (Oryzaephilus mercator). Typical location: Nuts and fatty dry goods. Potential harm: Damages nuts, almonds, seeds and breakfast cereals. Possible response: Inspect food, discard infested products and clean.

Facts

Latin name
Oryzaephilus mercator
English name
Merchant grain beetle
Preferred conditions
Nuts and fatty dry goods
Life cycle
Varies with conditions and life stage

Response and treatment

Inspect food, discard infested products and clean

Treatment depends on the species, extent and circumstances. Products are not always needed. Any products used are permitted for the intended use in Iceland. Follow their instructions and the pest-control professional’s guidance.

Do you have an unwelcome visitor?

Call and describe it. Advice is free, and one phone call often solves the problem.