Southern Barn Pit - species and habitat features

Ognevki is a family of butterflies that are pests of food supplies, seeds, fodder. During mass reproduction, they eat a large amount of grain and other products. The rest of the stocks also become worthless. It is contaminated with excrement, larval skins and dead insects. South Barn firebox refers to heat-loving species, therefore, in natural conditions it lives only in the southern regions. The rest of the territory settles in enclosed spaces.

Types of fire

Among the many species that are a threat to grain harvest and food stocks, fireworms stand out for their harmfulness. Insects of the family Pyralidae are small butterflies with a thin body and long limbs. Their front wings have the shape of a triangle, it is 2-3 times longer than wide. The hind wings are wider and shorter than the front. Like other lepidopteran butterflies and moths, grain pests are insects with complete transformation. Such development involves the passage of four stages: the egg, larva, pupa, and imago.

Larvae, called caterpillars, have underdeveloped abdominal legs and a gnawing mouth apparatus. A substance is released from special glands, which freezes in the web in air.

Information. Moths of butterflies do not feed, despite common misconceptions, they do not fly into the light.

Insects at the larval stage damage the stocks of cereals and flour in home kitchens, shops and industrial storages. Among the most common types:

Mill fire

Butterfly 10-14 mm long, wing size up to 24 mm. The front wings are gray with black wavy stripes, the hind wings are white. The insect prefers to eat flour, most often found in mills. The pest is found in enterprises associated with the processing of grain and flour, around the globe. The female lays 250-300 eggs, attaching them to the bags or walls of the room. The caterpillar creates a spider web, it does not tolerate sunlight. Most of the larvae live and develop in the upper layer of flour, deepening by 5-10 cm. In the middle lane, 2 generations are replaced per year, in the south - 6-7. As preventive measures, it is recommended to disinfect storages, treat grain with contact insecticides, and cool (heat) grain processing products.

Ognevka grain

A multi-pest pest, it is called seed, tobacco, cocoa and chocolate. Its length is 7-8 mm, wingspan 15-17 mm. The front wings are gray-ash, light bandages and dark scales stand out on them. Insects are ubiquitous. The female lays from 100 to 200 eggs. 5 days are enough for the embryo to mature. The color of the larva depends on the type of food, it can be white, yellowish or pink. Track length 12-15 mm. The development of one generation takes 2-6 months, depending on the ambient temperature. Larvae feed on grain, sunflower seeds, flour, chocolate, cereals.Adult caterpillars are resistant to cold, young ones die at - 10⁰ after three days.

Flour Flame

The butterfly is medium in size, its body is up to 12 mm long, its wingspan is 20-30 mm. The insect is variegated - at the base and at the top they are reddish-brown. The basic tone changes from olive to brown. Butterfly often bends abdomen up. The pest is widespread everywhere except in the far north. In Mongolia, Hungary, in Cuba it is a quarantine facility. The female produces up to 250 eggs. Caterpillars are off-white. They damage cereals, grains, flour and flour products. Larvae live in colonies, each creates for itself a tube of web and food. This is a cold resistant look. In the summer, butterflies live on the street, flying to their homes and storehouses.

Southern Barn Plow

A common species called Indian moth. Insects live in North America, throughout Europe, in Asia and Australia. The body size of the butterfly is 7-8 mm, the wings are 14-20 mm. The front wings are narrow, at the base they are yellowish, then red-buffy. Two dark gray stripes cross the wings across. The length of the caterpillar is 12-16 mm; it is devoid of bristles.
The color of the larvae is yellowish or greenish. Caterpillars damage grain and flour, prefer corn. They are found in confectionery factories where they damage chocolate, as well as almonds and other nuts. Larvae are dangerous for seeds; they first gnaw out the embryo. The insect is a heat-loving species, at temperatures below 14⁰ stops development.

Features of breeding barn

Butterflies appear in the spring, they begin to mate immediately after leaving the cocoon. Females prefer to sit on the walls and wait for the males to arrive. Unfertilized individuals raise the abdomen up. Egg laying begins the day after mating. The female lays 100-400 eggs on ears of corn, grain and dried fruits. The size of the egg is 0.5 mm, for ripening in the summer 3-4 days are required. Upon exit, the caterpillar gnaws an irregularly shaped hole.

Interesting fact. The life expectancy of adults is 6-14 days, active males live longer than females.

Larvae build a spider web around themselves and attach excrement to it. They settle in the upper layer of grain or flour. With the onset of autumn cold weather, pests go deep into stocks. They winter at the last caterpillar stage. Pupation usually occurs in spring. The pupal phase lasts one week; under adverse conditions, it drags on for a month. Usually 1-3 generations are replaced per year.

Attention. The pest is sensitive to cold and heat. Insects die at -15⁰ during the day, at +50⁰ - in 6 hours.

The southern barn fire causes significant damage to the seed material. Its larvae spoil wheat and corn, making grains unsuitable for sowing. Insects settle on medicinal herbs, herbaria, entomological collections. In case of mass infection, grain cannot be used for processing and fodder, it must be destroyed.

Harmfulness

Caterpillars of the cereal moth are settled one by one on wheat, and on corn they can be two or three. The larvae of other butterflies weave cobwebs of grain, flour or other products that they have settled on. They form a small nest in which to grow their molt. Insect excrement remains in the cobweb ducts. Their metabolic products increase humidity and create favorable conditions for the development of fungi and mold. Storing stocks become unsuitable for food.

Caterpillars of the genus Ephestia (mill ognevka) fasten flour and dust into large clods. Insects gnaw through the sieves in the mechanisms, which clogs the production lines. In mills, where an excessive amount of pests appears due to the high temperature, it is necessary to clean the equipment several times a year.

The larvae of the barn moth that fed on dried fruits do not crawl into the cracks, but pupate in place.Young caterpillars are very mobile, after birth they actively crawl in search of a suitable grain or fruit.

Pest Control Methods

The use of chemicals is the most common way to control pests of grain and products. The means used should effectively affect the fire, while not changing the quality of the products. For the disinsection of grain, dried fruits, cereals, special gases are used. Warehouses, granaries and mills are treated with contact insecticides.

Tip. To monitor the number of fires, pheromone traps of 1 pc are used. indoor 500 m³. They are also used for catching butterflies, in this case 1 trap per 50 m is required.³.

Prevention of pests in the kitchen

Grain pests can appear at home at any time. The following measures will help prevent danger:

1. Periodically audit kitchen cabinets and closets. Check containers where cereals, flour, pasta are stored.
2. Destroy products with signs of damage by pests.
3. Wet shelves and cabinets.
4. Store food in closed containers. To prevent the appearance of barn moths, cereals can be exposed to cold or microwave.
5. Arrange lavender, garlic, citrus peels in dry food storage areas. They scare away butterflies.