The club of the confused flour beetle antennae is four segmented and forms the club gradually. The antennae of the red flour beetle is distinctly club-like, with a three-segmented club. The two can be easily separated based on antennal characteristics. The red flour beetle is named after its rust-red color. The confused flour beetle was named because of the confusion over its identity. A thorough clean up is advised, using a vacuum cleaner to get into the cracks and crevices followed by a treatment using a broad spectrum residual insecticide.Ĭonfused Flour Beetle ( Tribolium Confusum ) Within commercial situations, the use of insect monitors is key to help pinpoint the infestations. Control MethodsĬontrol of these pests begins with a thorough inspection, source the location and then the destruction of the infested food. The life cycle requires one to four months when temperatures are favourable and the female may live for as long as 2 years. These beetles often hitchhike into the house in infested flour and can build up into large populations on food accumulations in cabinet cracksĪnd crevices and in furniture.
Rust-Red Flour Beetle ( Tribolium Castaneum )Īdult elongate, 2.3 – 4.4 mm in length colour, reddish-brown antennae with distinct, 3 – segmented club at tip no ridge present above each eye.īeetles attack milled grain products such as flour and cereals. Where appropriate apply insecticides to the fabric of stores or apply grain protectants.Clean stores thoroughly before harvest and seal all building cracks and crevices.Use trapping methods to identify and measure insect infestations.Other signs may be broken packaging and debris of the product found around the product pack. The typical infestation signs of this flour beetle are similar to the ones of the other family members – development and accumulation of mould in the product with the increasing size of the infestation, as well as change of the product colour – it may change to grey.
The Broad-horned flour beetle, just like the majority of the stored product insects, is not dangerous to people or pets, however, the infested products should not be consumed.
The structure between the base of the front legs is parallel-sided and pointed at the tip. Mandibles of males are highly enlarged and horn-like, with the sides of head having flange-like processes. The broad-horned flour beetle is 3-4 mm, flattened, parallel-sided and reddish-brown.
#Biscuit beetle life cycle professional
Use a trained professional pest controller.Broad Horned Flour Beetle ( Gnatocerus Cornutus ) 'If you feel your issue has not been resolved with the house keeping options above them we recommend you contact a professional pest controller to survey the issue and treat as necessary. Also check the loft or eaves of your house for an old bird nest, as these can be a common source of Biscuit Beetles. Throw out any infested food and thoroughly clean out any food residues from areas where the beetles or their grubs are found. The adults fly, but do not feed and live for relatively short periods of three to four weeks. They feed and grow for about two months or so, depending on temperature, the larvae pupate inside cocoons, often within the food material, and one or two weeks later the adult's hatch, their emergence holes resembling typical 'woodworm' (Anobium) exit holes. The white larvae are very small and quite active when they hatch. They have also been known to penetrate tin foil and lead, and have even bored through a shelf-full of books. Very similar in appearance and closely related to the Common Furniture Beetle (Woodworm), these insects can easily be confused and misidentified.įlour, biscuits, cake mixes, cereals, spices, meat and soup powders will attract them most, however, they will thrive on other substances such as poisonous substances like strychnine, belladonna and aconite - hence the beetle’s American name Drug Store Beetle.
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