DID YOU KNOW?


There are two different types of beetles classified as flour beetles: the red flour beetle and the confused flour beetle. Both are similar in physical characteristics. They are flat and oval in shape and usually range around 1/8” long. Their exoskeleton is reddish brown with a shiny and smooth texture. The eggs, larvae and pupa resemble each other closely in physical features as well. The eggs usually tend to be a white color, or at times even colorless. They are very small in size and have a sticky outer covering that causes certain food particles to stick to it.

The flour beetles mainly infest grains, including, but not limited to: cereal, corn meal oats, rice, flour and crackers. This type of beetle is the most abundant insect pest of flour mills across the United States. Their small size allows them to maneuver through cracks and crevices and get into the home and other areas. Once they are present in areas with potential food sources, they can infest material such as flour, resulting in a sharp odor or moldy flavor.

Adult drugstore beetles are cylindrical with lengths ranging from 2.25 to 3.5 mm. These beetles are a reddish brown color and have elytra, sclerotized (hardened) wings that fold back over the abdomen and hinge upwards, allowing the hind wings to come out in order to fly.  Females are capable of laying up to 75 eggs during 13 to 65 days. After the eggs are laid they move into a larval period that can range anywhere from 4 to 20 weeks. After the larval period, drugstore beetle larvae move out of the substrate to build a cocoon and pupate. The pupation period takes a total of 12–18 days. The entire life cycle of the drugstore beetle lasts approximately 2 months but can be as long as 7 months. These stored product pests will infest almost anything readily available. Food products prone to infestation include: flours, dry mixes, breads, cookies and other spices. Non-food material includes: wool, hair, leather and museum specimens.

The saw toothed grain beetle is closely related to the merchant grain beetle and is commonly found in kitchen cabinets feeding on items such as cereal, breakfast foods, dried fruits, macaroni, crackers, etc. They are the most common grain and stored product pest in the United States. They are very active and tend to crawl rapidly while searching for food.  They are small insects, reaching a length of about 1/8”. Their name originates from their distinguishable saw-tooth-like projections found on each side of the thorax. 

Indianmeal moths can infest a variety of foods found in the home. Coarsely ground grains, cereals, dried fruits and herbs are common items the moths have been known to infest. They have also been found in animal food such as dry dog food, fish food and even bird seed. The adult moth is small; generally, their length averages about 3/8” with a 5/8” wing span.