. 2002. A rapid method to detect Cryptolestes ferrugineus (Coleoptera: Cucujidae) larvae in stored grain. Can. J. Plant Sci. 82: 591-597. Modifications of three detection methods, based on the heat-gradient principle employed by the Berlese funnel method were investigated to extract larvae of the rusty grain beetle, Cryptolestes ferrugineus (Stephens), developing under the seed coats of infested kernels in grain samples. Onekilogram samples of wheat, barley and corn were artificially infested with rusty grain beetle eggs, resulting in survival rates (to larval stage) of 71.1 ± 14.4, 58.9 ± 14.3, and 24.7 ± 11.8%, respectively. Sets of 10 infested kernels containing different-aged larvae (10 individuals ¥ 4 instars) were added to 1-kg samples of hydrated grain, then heated on screens beneath heat sources (lights) at several heights in three different containers (Berlese funnel, with a 7-cm-deep grain layer, or square and rectangular screened boxes with a grain layer several kernels deep). There were no significantly different extraction rates between the rectangular and square containers for all heating trials. A larval extraction rate of 31% was produced by 1-h trials with wheat (15% moisture content wet basis) 5.5 cm below the lamp bank with a thermostat set at 50°C. This matched the efficiency of the Berlese funnel method (36% extraction in 6 h), but in much less time. Similar results were found for barley, but for corn the square and rectangle gave significantly better extraction than the Berlese funnel, although extraction efficiency was half that of wheat and barley. Considerably lower extraction rates were obtained from trials that did not use a thermostat. The results from this experiment show that there is a potential alternative detection method with the thermostatically controlled heating of a thin layer of grain that should be faster than the conventional 6-h Berlese funnel method. Cette méthode s'avère aussi efficace que l'appareil de Berlèse (taux d'extraction de 36 % au bout de 6 heures), mais est beaucoup plus rapide. Des résultats analogues ont été obtenus avec l'orge, mais les récipients carré et rectangulaire donnent un taux d'extraction significativement supérieur à celui de l'appareil de Berlèse pour le maïs, même si l'extraction est deux fois moins efficace qu'avec l'orge ou le blé. Sans thermostat, les essais entraînent un taux d'extraction considérablement plus faible. Les résultats indiquent que le chauffage d'une mince couche de grains avec réglage thermostatique pourrait constituer une méthode de dépistage plus rapide que la technique traditionnelle avec l'appareil de Berlèse.