khapra beetle

[kah-pruh, kap-ruh]

noun

1. a tiny cosmopolitan beetle, Trogoderma granarium, that is a pest of stored grain and other dried organic matter.

Word History and Origins

Origin of khapra beetle¹

First recorded in 1895–1900; from Hindi khaprā “destroyer” + beetle ¹

Example Sentences

The khapra beetle was found last summer among documents when a Canadian resident entered the U.S. via the Blue Water Bridge in Port Huron.

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One of the most worrisome insects these days is the khapra beetle, which burrows into rice and other dried goods, such as peas and lentils, from India, Egypt and Morocco, among other destinations.

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The Khapra beetle is considered one of the world’s most destructive pests for stored grains, cereals and seeds.

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An agency release Thursday said agriculture specialists at Washington Dulles International Airport and Baltimore Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport recently encountered the Khapra beetle, the only insect it takes regulatory action against.

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An agency release Thursday said agriculture specialists at Washington Dulles International Airport and Baltimore Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport recently have encountered the Khapra beetle, the only insect it takes regulatory action against.

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