Minute brown scavenger beetle (a plaster/mold beetle; family Latridiidae)

Cartodere constricta is a minute brown scavenger beetle (Latridiidae). Adults measure only 1.3–2.0 mm in length. The prothorax (pronotum) is strongly constricted at midlength and is proportionally small relative to the abdomen, yielding a distinctly “waisted” appearance. Adults are brown-bodied and compact. Larvae are small, narrow, and dorsoventrally flattened; they are active and lack terminal urogomphi.

Direct damage: none. This insect is strictly fungivorous, feeding on mold hyphae and spores rather than the caryopsis. It does not perforate the pericarp, abrade the endosperm, or impair germination through feeding; kernels remain intact. Its presence is a bioindicator of elevated moisture and fungal colonization. Indirect issues may occur if damp conditions persist: nuisance contamination by adults, larvae, frass, and exuviae; dispersal of fungal propagules; and quality downgrades driven by molds—odor, caking, localized heating, and potential mycotoxin concerns. Populations typically collapse once grain is dried and aerated; the infestation resolves on its own unless grain remains humid.

Key infestation sign: mold. Cartodere constricta (Gyllenhal), the minute brown scavenger beetle (Latridiidae), is strictly mycophagous and builds up only where fungal growth is present. In stored grain, suspect this species when you observe: - Visible mold patches or sporulating fungi on kernels, fines, or along bin walls - Caked or clumped grain from fungal hyphae binding particles - Musty, moldy odor and damp “hot spots” with condensation There are no distinctive beetle-specific symptoms: no kernel perforation, tunneling, webbing, or characteristic frass typical of primary grain pests. In practice, the presence of mold—especially in localized, moisture-rich pockets—is the principal indicator of C. constricta activity; confirmation requires trapping or direct detection but the diagnostic environmental sign remains mold.

Cartodere constricta (minute brown scavenger beetle; Latridiidae) is a mycetophagous, holometabolous pest of stored grain and other commodities. Females oviposit among the goods, favoring damp, moldy microhabitats. After eclosion, larvae—like the adults—feed exclusively on fungi (hyphae and spores). Following larval development, pupation occurs and the imago emerges, mates, and repeats the cycle. Reproduction tracks fungal growth; controlling moisture and mold is key to breaking the life cycle.

Cosmopolitan and synanthropic, this mycetophagous beetle prefers grain warehouses and cereal storage (silos, bins). It thrives in humid, moldy microhabitats—damp residues and crevices—feeding on fungal mycelia in stored‑grain settings.

Lathridius minutus Other species of Latridiidae and Cryptophagidae