Angoumois grain moth

insect

Also known as: Sitotroga cerealella

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

June 18, 2026

Quick Summary

The Angoumois grain moth (Sitotroga cerealella) is a small tineid moth. Its larvae are a significant pest, as they feed on the inside of stored grain kernels. This moth is also known as the angoumois moth. The name originates from Angoumois, a former province in France. Grain moths, in general, are small tineoid moths whose larvae consume stored grains.12

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

2 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

gelechiid moth
The whitish larvae of the Angoumois grain moth (Sitotroga cerealella) attack both stored and growing grains, hollowing out the insides of kernels. The gray-coloured adult has blackish spots and a wingspan of about 12 mm (about 1/2 inch).
Read More
The whitish larvae of the Angoumois grain moth (Sitotroga cerealella) attack both stored and growing grains, hollowing out the insides of kernels. The gray-coloured adult has blackish spots and a wingspan of about 12 mm (about 1/2 inch).
Read More