The biology of Cryptolestes pusilloides (Steel & Howe) (Coleoptera, Cucujidae), a pest of stored cereals in the Southern Hemisphere

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Abstract
Cryptolestes pusilloides (Steel & Howe) has, since 1944, become a regularly occurring pest of stored cereals in South America, Australia, South Africa, and to a lesser extent, East Africa, and apparently occurs also in North America as well as in Portugal (where it has recently been found on stored almonds), but has not established itself in flour mills in the U.K., notwithstanding its frequent introduction. Prior to that time it appears to have been very rare. Its life-cycle resembles that of C. ugandae Steel & Howe, and in common with that species and with C. turcicus (Grouv.), it is unable to breed successfully at relative humidities below 50 per cent. Its temperature range is 15–35°C., the optimum for development and fecundity being at about 30°C. at 90 per cent. R.H. Survival was greatest at 27·5°C. and newly formed adults weighed most at 22·5°C. In general, males weighed more than females and their developmental period under any one set of conditions was slightly longer than that of females. The biological information now available shows that C. ferrugineus (Steph.) and C. capensis (Waltl), which are taxonomieally associated by exhibiting sexual dimorphism in the structure of the mandibles, are species that can withstand dry conditions, whereas C. ugandae, C. turcicus, C. pusillus (Schönh.) and C. pusilloides, all of which show sexual dimorphism in the antennae, are unable to breed at relative humidities much below 50 per cent.