With over 50 species of insects recognized as pests of stored grain in Canada, how can you quickly identify a given insect? You can now use the Canadian Grain Commission’s insect keys, available at www.grainscanada.gc.ca.

“Our insect keys are an effective, easy to use tool for insect identification. Once you know the insect you’re dealing with, you can make the appropriate decisions for management,” explains Brent Elliott, Infestation Control and Sanitation Office at the Canadian Grain Commission.

To use the keys, you choose which of a pair of images and descriptions best matches the insect being identified. The process continues until you are able to identify the insect.

The insect keys are some of the first sections of the Canadian Grain Commission’s web site that have been redesigned to follow Government of Canada standards for web design, including new standards on usability and optimizing web sites for mobile devices. A usable and accessible web site ensures Canadians are able to easily find information and services using a variety of devices, including mobile devices.