Adult : Pearly-white, 0.32-0.42mm long, oval, somewhat pear-shaped body with two pairs of long hairs trailing from broader rear end and pale-yellow to reddish-brown legs.

Eggs (100 per female) deposited on food material. Entire life-cycle takes 17 days under optimum conditions.

Immature stages and adults both attack foodstuff. Eggs can survive several months under 0C. Extremely sensitive to moisture conditions since they lack breathing tubes. Commonly found in bird nests which aid in its dispersal. Infests rice, corn, various flours including whole wheat, corn meal, cereal foods, dried fruits, vegetable material, animal feed and cheese and can also cause human dermatitis.