Confused Flour Beetle, Tribolium confusum
Confused Flour Beetle, Tribolium confusum is a serious pest of stored grain products such as flour, cereals, meal, crackers, beans, spices, pasta, cake mix, dried pet food, dried flowers, chocolate, nuts, seeds, and even dried museum specimens. They are small, reddish-brown beetles, about 3.5 mm long. The confused flour beetle apparently received this name due to confusion over about its identity, as it is so similar to the red flour beetle at first glance. These beetles are two of the most important pests of stored products in the home and grocery stores. The confused flour beetle, originally of African origin, now it is distributed worldwide in temperate regions.
Biology of Confused Flour Beetle, Tribolium confusum
Tribolium confusum is a small, reddish-brown beetle, about 3-4 mm long. The antenna of Tribolium confusum is gradually enlarged toward the tip, ending in a club shape of 4 segments. The sides of the thorax are almost straight. These beetles have chewing mouthparts. Adult females lay 400 to 500 clear-white sticky eggs, on or among food particles, in cracks, or through the meshes of sacks containing food, such as cereal products. Adult females are long-lived, and may survive as long as 2 years.
Image: Larva and pupae of confused flour beetle. (Image full credit to USDA, ARS)
Eggs hatch in 5 to 12 days into small, brownish-white larvae, which go through 5 to 12 instars, and reach maturity in as few as 30 days under optimum conditions, but may require up to 4 months. In a warm storehouses and mills, there are 4 or 5 generations annually.
Image: Adult confused flour beetle. (Image full credit to USDA, ARS)
Nature of Damage of Confused Flour Beetle, Tribolium confusum
These beetles are very common pests infesting many flourmills, warehouses, and grocery stores. Both adults and larvae feed on grain, dust and broken kernels, but not the undamaged whole grain kernels. They also feed upon grain, beans, dried fruits, nuts, chocolate, and other foods in the house. Flour beetles attack milled grain products such as flour and cereals. These beetles often infested flour and can build up into large populations on food accumulations in cabinet cracks and crevices and in furniture.
Pheromone for Confused Flour Beetle, Tribolium confusum
Russell IPM manufactures and supplies pheromone lure, traps and complete monitoring systems for Confused Flour Beetle, Tribolium confusum. Pheromone trap provides early warning and alters the pest controller before confused flour beetle infestation become serious. Russell IPM offers safe store confused flour beetle trap.