Flour Beetle
Flour Beetles have adapted well to extremely dry conditions. Furthermore, they are extremely hardy, cause damage to stored food products and are known to transmit a type of parasite that can cause allergic reactions in humans.
Appearance
- Reddish-brown
- 3–6 mm long
Habits
- Flour beetles enjoy eating flour and cereal products
- Common in homes and grocery stores, can also infest mills and food processing areas
Life Cycle
- Polyandrous mating behaviour, females mate with several males in one cycle
- This behaviour allows them to produce more offspring
Signs of Infestation
- Sighting of small tubular beetles near or in stored products
- Adult flour beetles are able to crawl into product packages that appear to be sealed
- Infestation can easily spread from one product to another on a shelf
