Insects in grains

Insects are one of the critical reasons why cereal grains and grain products do not retain quality during storage. It is important to identify which pests are present in order to effectively control them. This chapter covers several key aspects of stored grain insects. Key aspects include insect classification, structure, and development; various insects in stored grain and grain products, including both internal and external infestors; ecological and environmental factors affecting stored product insect populations; damage caused by stored product insects; and detection of insect infestation. This chapter builds a solid foundation for subsequent chapters, which will cover control and mitigation aspects, as well as preservation technologies and quality management approaches.