Pronounced snout projecting in front of the head, at the end of which are strong teeth-like mandibles.  Adults are about 3 millimetres long, dark brown with two rather large, yellowish spots on each wing cover. Usually found only in whole cereal grains (wheat, corn, sorghum, rice). Female chews a hole in the kernel, deposits an egg in it, and seals the hole with a gelatinous material. The white, legless, grub-like larva hatches from the egg after a few days, feeds and completes development to adult inside the kernel. The adult chews its way out of the kernel and continues to feed on the grain. They reduce the infested grain over time to a coarse, stale smelling powder. Individual infested grains have irregular feeding marks, and some are partially hollowed out. Heavy infestation causes the stored grains to heat up, resulting in mould growth and change in taste. They can chew through plastic and paper bags to reach stored food.