Which pest is commonly associated with whole grains or seeds and has white, legless larvae?

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Multiple Choice

Which pest is commonly associated with whole grains or seeds and has white, legless larvae?

This question hinges on recognizing a stored-product pest by both its preferred host and the appearance of its larval stage. The granary weevil specializes in whole grains and seeds, and its larvae develop inside the grain kernels. Those larvae are white and legless, a typical form for insects that feed internally within seeds. The lifecycle fits neatly: the female lays eggs inside a grain kernel, the larva feeds within the kernel, then pupates, and an adult emerges through the seed, often leaving tiny exit holes. This internal, seed-centered damage is a hallmark of granary weevils. By contrast, pests such as Indian meal moths infest a wide range of dried foods and have caterpillar-like larvae with legs, not the white, legless form associated with grain-internal development. Other stored-product beetles may have legless larvae as well, but they are more commonly linked to processed products or damaged grain rather than intact whole grains. So, the description points most specifically to the granary weevil.

This question hinges on recognizing a stored-product pest by both its preferred host and the appearance of its larval stage. The granary weevil specializes in whole grains and seeds, and its larvae develop inside the grain kernels. Those larvae are white and legless, a typical form for insects that feed internally within seeds. The lifecycle fits neatly: the female lays eggs inside a grain kernel, the larva feeds within the kernel, then pupates, and an adult emerges through the seed, often leaving tiny exit holes. This internal, seed-centered damage is a hallmark of granary weevils.

By contrast, pests such as Indian meal moths infest a wide range of dried foods and have caterpillar-like larvae with legs, not the white, legless form associated with grain-internal development. Other stored-product beetles may have legless larvae as well, but they are more commonly linked to processed products or damaged grain rather than intact whole grains. So, the description points most specifically to the granary weevil.

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