Biology:
Chiefly at night, the female lays 100-400 eggs, singly or in small groups, on the lava food material during a period of 1-18 days. The Laval period lasts 13-288 days, depending primarily on temperature and food availability. When the last stage of growth for the lava is ready to pupate it wanders about until a suitable pupation site is found. There are usually 4-6 generations per year, with the life cycle egg to egg typically requiring 25-135 days. Complete metamorphosis.

Habits:
The adult causes no damage. The lava are surface feeders and generally produce a lot of webbing throughout the infested parts of materials. They are general feeders and attack grain and grain products, a wide variety of dried fruits, seeds, nuts, powdered milk, biscuits, chocolate, and bird seed. They are very destructive wherever dried fruits are stored. Adults are attracted to lights.

Reasons for Control:
Considerable damage to goods and products, loss of quality, loss of goodwill, loss of production, to comply with UK Legislation.