Which pests are known for attacking whole grains and chewing through the seed coat?

Rice and granary weevils are recognized for their specific behavior of attacking whole grains and penetrating the seed coat. These pests are small, dark-colored beetles belonging to the family Curculionidae, and they are particularly notorious in grain storage. The female weevil lays her eggs inside the grain kernels, and upon hatching, the larvae feed internally, causing significant damage. This behavior not only affects the quality of the grain but also its viability, making these pests a major concern for both producers and consumers of stored grains.

Other options, while related to pest issues, do not share the same feeding behavior. For example, merchant grain beetles typically infest stored products but are more often associated with milled grains and processed food rather than whole grains. Clothes moths primarily target animal fibers and not grains, focusing on fabrics rather than food sources. Psocids, or booklice, are more frequently found in areas with high humidity and are known for feeding on mold rather than directly attacking whole grains. Thus, rice and granary weevils stand out as the specific pests that cause damage to grain grains by chewing through their seed coats.