Seed moth

Hofmannophila pseudospretella (Stainton), the seed moth, has bronzy‑brown adults with darker maculation on the forewings. The hindwings are conspicuously broader than in species of the genus Endrosis, giving a fuller wing profile. Adults measure 8–14 mm in body length with a 17–25 mm wingspan; males are smaller than females, showing clear sexual dimorphism. The larvae (caterpillars) are whitish with a brown cephalic capsule, reaching 18–20 mm at full maturity.

In stored grain, the damage is subtle and non-diagnostic. Larvae feed on kernels and other commodities while spinning only scant silk webbing, insufficient to create dense mats or clumps. Their feeding produces irregularly shaped perforations and gnawed areas on the surface of grains and seeds. Expect scattered, uneven holes rather than continuous galleries or extensive webbing. These small, irregular feeding sites are the main visible sign of activity in infested lots.

Signs of Seed Moth infestation (Hofmannophila pseudospretella (Stainton)) in stored grain: - Silken webbing and silk-lined galleries that bind kernels and fines; clumped or caked patches in the grain mass. - Frass: loose powder and granular fecal pellets embedded in webbing, often with seed husk fragments. - Larval cases/tubes and rough silk cocoons (with frass) on the grain surface, bag seams, walls, and equipment. - Exuviae: shed larval skins and head capsules within webbed mats. - Live immatures: creamy to dirty‑white larvae with a brown head capsule concealed in silken tunnels; pupae within debris. - Adults: small, mottled brown moths flushing from grain when disturbed; captures in light or pheromone traps near storage. Note: Webbing and grain clumping can also be caused by other stored‑product moths; confirm identity with collected specimens.

Hofmannophila pseudospretella is holometabolous (egg–larva–pupa–adult). After mating, females oviposit on or immediately adjacent to food sources. Neonate larvae colonize commodity surfaces and interstices; they are the sole damaging stage, feeding through successive instars and producing silk webbing and frass. High ambient humidity is required for successful larval development; under dry or adverse conditions, larvae enter diapause, a developmental arrest that increases drought survival and confers partial tolerance to insecticidal treatments. Mature larvae pupate in a silken cocoon within the food mass or nearby crevices. Adults (imago) do not feed on stored goods; they disperse and reproduce soon after emergence. In warm storages, generations can overlap year‑round.

Synanthropic: favors indoor habitats—homes, apartments, pantries, and grain stores—with residual detritus and poor sanitation. Larvae thrive in warm, undisturbed niches (insulation, textiles) and avian nests, exploiting carrion and keratin.

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