A to Z of Pests

Flour Mite

Acarus siro

Appearance

• Adult — 0.5 mm long. 4 pairs of legs. White or pale brown. Slow moving.
• Larva — 6 legged and 0.5 mm long. White in colour. Passes through two, 8 legged nymphal stages.

Lifecycle

• 9–11 days at 23°C and 90% relative humidity.

Habits

• Under adverse conditions, may pass through a long and very resistant stage called a hypopus.