Latin: Lepidoglyphus, Acarus, Tyrophagus, Tydeus, Cheyletus and Tarsonemus
Stock mites are microscopic animals that live in and feed on seeds, straw, hay, and grain. If the stock of one of these becomes damp, fungus can form in the stock. The stock mites graze on these fungal formations and it can be difficult to get rid of them again. Stock mites are viable and can survive even in the most unfavorable conditions.
It is primarily in the industry that stock mites can be a problem. Stock mites can be difficult to control because it is not easy to prove that they are in one’s stock.
Appearance
A single stock mite will not be visible to the naked eye, although you will be able to see them as “living dust” when they move around in larger numbers. This is because a single stock mite is only 0.1 to 0.6 millimeters long, like the size of a speck of dust.
Stock mites are whitish to light beige in color, almost like untreated rice or bone. This allows them to look like dust grains to the naked eye. The individual stock mite has a large body and small legs. It gnaws its way through both fungus and seeds, straw, hay, and grain with their small “teeth”.
Biology and behavior
Several species of mites live together. And there are six different species of stock mites: Lepidoglyphus, Acarus, Tyrophagus, Tydeus, Cheyletus and Tarsonemus. Lepidoglyphus, Acarus, and Tyrophagus. They feed on fungal growth and germs, while Tydeus and Cheyletus are predatory mites. Which means they survive by eating the other mites.
Even with a microscope, it can be difficult to find out the different roles that the six species play on their own, internal society.
The development of stock mites depends on temperature and humidity. The stock mites are resistant to cooler temperatures. They can multiply at temperatures of 2 degrees, but they will need a relatively high humidity.
They multiply and flourish at a 65% humidity.
Damage
It is extremely unhygienic to have fungal growth in seed, straw, hay, and grain stocks, so the presence of mites can be a sign of a spoiled stock. And their presence affects the quality of the grain, depending on the quantity of mites, the grain may start to smell rotten too.
In addition, stock mites can also be harmful to some. When humans handle the infected grains, the stock mites will swirl loose from the grain (like dust) and they can be inhaled or get in contact with the eyes, which can lead to irritations.
Some people develop allergies to stock mites if they deal with them on regular basis.
Prevention and control
The first problem that arises when one wants to prevent, and control stock mites is to detect them.
Either you can get help from professionals, or you can try a slightly less accurate, but still cheaper and faster method. By sifting a handful of the grains, dust will sprinkle down. This dust can then be examined for storage mites.
Once storage mites have been detected in one’s grain, dry the grain, making sure that the water content will be lowered to around 13.5-14% or lower. The water content in rapeseed should be 7.5%.
Prevention is done by keeping one’s stock dry, to prevent fungal growth as well as mites.
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