Which stage of the Cigarette beetle is considered damaging to whole grain?

Which stage of the Cigarette beetle is considered damaging to whole grain?

• A. Eggs
• B. Larvae
• C. Pupae
• D. Adults

Answer: (B)

The larval stage of the Cigarette beetle is considered damaging to whole grain because it is during this phase that the larvae actively feed on the grains. Once the eggs hatch, the larvae emerge and begin to consume the grain material, leading to significant damage. This feeding behavior can compromise the quality of the grain, leading to economic losses for producers and storage facilities. The larvae chew through kernels and can create pathways that allow for contamination or spoilage, exacerbating the impact on stored products. In contrast, the eggs, pupae, and adult stages, while part of the overall life cycle of the beetle, do not directly cause the same level of damage to the grain as the larvae do. The eggs are merely the initial stage from which larvae hatch, and pupae represent a transitional phase in development. The adults, while they can reproduce and lay more eggs, do not engage in feeding on the grain itself, thus having a lesser impact on whole grain integrity compared to the larvae.

The larval stage of the Cigarette beetle is considered damaging to whole grain because it is during this phase that the larvae actively feed on the grains. Once the eggs hatch, the larvae emerge and begin to consume the grain material, leading to significant damage. This feeding behavior can compromise the quality of the grain, leading to economic losses for producers and storage facilities. The larvae chew through kernels and can create pathways that allow for contamination or spoilage, exacerbating the impact on stored products.

In contrast, the eggs, pupae, and adult stages, while part of the overall life cycle of the beetle, do not directly cause the same level of damage to the grain as the larvae do. The eggs are merely the initial stage from which larvae hatch, and pupae represent a transitional phase in development. The adults, while they can reproduce and lay more eggs, do not engage in feeding on the grain itself, thus having a lesser impact on whole grain integrity compared to the larvae.