ORDER: Lepidoptera
FAMILY: Oecophoridae
Size, Shape and Colour: The female is 10-33mm in length whereas the male is smaller at 7-10mm. Shiny gold in colour with black flecks, fringe of hairs on tips of wings. Larvae are pale green in colour and the pupa is a yellowish brown.
Biology: 100-500 eggs laid singly, oval in shape. Depending on temperature the larvae hatch after about 10-14 days. They grow to approximately 19mm long following feeding and moulting for 2-5 months. Pupae hatch in 2-8 weeks, normally in humidity of 80%.
Preferred Foods: They prefer dry matter and cereal food stuffs. Packaging materials can be damaged by the larvae.
Habitat: Can be found in cereal processing buildings, warehouses and flour mills.
