Confused Flour Beetles
(Tribolium confusum)
Appearance
Confused flour beetles are reddish-brown in color and have a flat body. Their antennae end in a three-segmented club with the end being abrupt.
Size
1/8-inch long.
Behavior
Female beetles each lay 300 to 400 eggs in flour or other foods during a period of five to eight months. Within 5 to 12 days, these eggs hatch into slender larvae. The larval period varies from 22 to more than 100 days, and pupation takes about 8 days. Adults can live for 3 years or more.
Habitat
The Confused flour beetle is a scavenger and must rely on other insects to damage grain before it can feed on it. Because of this beetle’s small size, it frequently invades storage containers. These beetles breed in damaged grain, grain dust, high-moisture wheat kernels, flour, etc. They are prolific and quite damaging.
Interesting Facts
The Confused and Red flour beetles are known as "bran bugs" because they primarily attack milled grain products such as flour and cereals. Flour and other processed food products heavily infested by these beetles often develop a grayish tint and in some cases a disagreeable odor. These beetles often hitchhike into the home in infested flour and can multiply into large populations. Some survive on food accumulations in cabinet cracks and crevices.
Control
Do you live in South Florida and think that this pest may be invading your home? Hulett Environmental Services offers specialty pest control treatments designed to control and eliminate this pest!
