Moths of North Carolina
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View PDFGelechiidae Members: Sitotroga Members: 5 NC Records

Sitotroga cerealella (Olivier, 1789) - Angoumois Grain Moth

Sitotroga cerealellaSitotroga cerealella
Taxonomy
Superfamily:
Gelechioidea		 Family:
Gelechiidae		Subfamily:
Apatetrinae		P3 Number:
59a0592		 MONA Number:
2260.00		 Other Common Name:
French Grain-moth
Species Status: Sitotroga cerealella is an introduced species that feeds on cereal grains and other dried foods. It is probably native to Europe, but has been spread throughout the world by humans and is most commonly found in temperate and tropical regions.
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Covell (1984)Online Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: Meyrick (1895)                                                                                 
Adult Markings: Sitotroga cerealella is a small moth with an overall pale-straw to yellowish-brown color. The following description is based on that of Meyrick (1895) and Forbes (1923). The labial palp is generally similar is color to the rest of the body, with the second segment rough-scaled below. The terminal segment is longer than the second and is finely-scaled almost to the tip, which is often heavily-dusted with black scales. The basal segment of the antenna is long, and the shaft is straw-colored with dark-brown annulations. The head and thorax are pale-straw to yellowish-white, with the latter having three tiny black dots along the posterior fifth. The forewing is similar in color to the thorax, but sprinkled with brownish scales that create a slightly darker tone. The only conspicuous marks are two black spots (plical and outer discal), with the first occurring below the inner margin at around one-fourth the length from the base, and the second near the center of the wing at around two-thirds. Some specimens may have a black tornal dot, along with a faint line of blackish scales in the cilia. The hindwing is dusky-colored and trapezoidal in shape, with a concave outer margin that narrows to a sharply-pointed apex.
Wingspan: 13 - 17 mm
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Immatures and Development: Sitotroga cerealella is a global pest on whole cereal grain, especially maize, barley, millet, rice, wheat, and sorghum. The larvae often infect the developing grain in the field before being transferred to storage bins, where they can cause additional damage to stored grain. Eggs are laid on the grain and the larvae tunnel or excavate a cavity inside the kernels as they feed (Boamah et al., 2023). Pupation occurs inside the grain, and the adults that emerge soon start a new generation. The larva is stout and legless, and mostly white with a yellow head (Forbes, 1923).
Larvae ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos, especially where associated with known host plants.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: This species is found throughout the world in agricultural and urban settings where humans grow and store grain and grain products. In North America, it occurs in British Columbia, Alberta and California, as well as in most of the eastern US and adjoining areas of southern Ontario and Quebec. The range in the eastern US extends from Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New York and Pennsylvania southward to central Florida, and westward to Mississippi, Louisiana, western Tennessee, western Kentucky and Illinois. This species is generally found east of the Mississippi, although there are a couple of records from central Texas. As of 2025, we have a few scattered records from throughout the state.
County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.
Sitotroga cerealellaAlamance Alexander Alleghany Anson Ashe Avery Beaufort Bertie Bladen Brunswick Buncombe Burke Cabarrus Caldwell Camden Carteret Caswell Catawba Chatham Cherokee Chowan Clay Cleveland Columbus Craven Cumberland Currituck Dare Davidson Davie Duplin Durham Edgecombe Forsyth Franklin Gaston Gates Graham Granville Greene Guilford Halifax Harnett Haywood Henderson Hertford Hoke Hyde Iredell Jackson Johnston Jones Lee Lenoir Lincoln Macon Madison Martin McDowell Mecklenburg Mitchell Montgomery Moore Nash New Hanover Northampton Onslow Orange Pamlico Pasquotank Pender Perquimans Person Pitt Polk Randolph Richmond Robeson Rockingham Rowan Rutherford Sampson Scotland Stanly Stokes Surry Swain Transylvania Tyrrell Union Vance Wake Warren Washington Watauga Wayne Wilkes Wilson Yadkin Yancey
Flight Dates:
High Mountains (HM) ≥ 4,000 ft.
Low Mountains (LM) < 4,000 ft.
Piedmont (Pd)
Coastal Plain (CP)

Click on graph to enlarge 		Image showing flight dates by month for High Mountains greater than 4,000 feet, Low Mountains, Piedmont, and Coastal Plain: adults.
Flight Comments: The adults can be found year-round in subtropical and tropical regions, and during the warmer months of the year in more northern climates. When attacking cereal or other grain products in homes, they can be found year-round. As of 2025, we have only a few records and all are from November.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: Local populations are generally found in association with agricultural crops and stored grains, as well as grain products such as cereals and rice products.
Larval Host Plants: Larvae feed on stored grains of various sorts, including maize, barley, millet, rice, wheat, and sorghum (Robinson et al., 2010). - View
Observation Methods: The adults are attracted to lights and can be found in and around stored grain.
Wikipedia
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: GNR SNA
State Protection: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.
Comments: This is an introduced pest and is of no conservation concern.

 Photo Gallery for Sitotroga cerealella - Angoumois Grain Moth

Photos: 7
Sitotroga cerealella
Recorded by: Dean Furbish and Joy Wiggins on 2025-11-19
Wake Co.
Comment: 		Sitotroga cerealella
Recorded by: Dean Furbish and Joy Wiggins on 2025-11-19
Wake Co.
Comment:
Sitotroga cerealella
Recorded by: Dean Furbish and Joy Wiggins on 2025-11-19
Wake Co.
Comment: 		Sitotroga cerealella
Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2019-11-09
Guilford Co.
Comment:
Sitotroga cerealella
Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2019-11-09
Guilford Co.
Comment: 		Sitotroga cerealella
Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2019-11-09
Guilford Co.
Comment:
Sitotroga cerealella
iNaturalist		Recorded by: allenratzlaff - J. Allen Ratzlaff on 2016-11-03
Buncombe Co.
Comment: iNat record - https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/4509339***(c) John Ratzlaff, all rights reserved| Public Positional Accuracy=13 m Elevation=2565.7 feet

Photos of Sitotroga cerealella from iNaturalist

Sitotroga cerealella
© allenratzlaff - J. Allen Ratzlaff - 2016-11-03 - Buncombe Co.
iNat record