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INTRODUCTION. The red flour beetle gets its common name from its coloration and its habit of infesting flour. It is one of the most important pests of stored products found in the home and in grocery stores.  It is of Indo-Australian origin and now occurs worldwide in the warmer climates. In the United States, it is found primarily in the southern states.

RECOGNITION. Adults about 1/8in (3-4 mm) long.  Color reddish brown.  Antennae with abrupt, 3-segmented club.  Sides of thorax rounded.  Wings functional but commonly flies only short distances.  Except for antennal and thorax differences, almost identical to confused flour beetle.

     Full-grown larva about 1/8-1/4in (4-5 mm) long.  Hard-bodied, cylindrical, wiry in appearance.  Color white but tinged yellowish.  Distinguishable from larvae of somewhat similar appearance by the darkened prominent, 2-pronged, non-movable and unsegmented termination of last body segment (=urogomphi); this same distinction is true for confused flour beetles.

 

 

 


HABITS. These beetles are unable to feed on whole kernels or undamaged grain. They have been recorded attacking grains and grain products, peas, beans, shelled nuts, dried fruits, spices, milk chocolate, drugs, snuff, cayenne pepper, and herbarium, insect, and other museum specimens.  They are attracted to flour of high moisture content.

     Adults can fly and are attracted to light.

     Although humans are not injured by it, red flour beetles do impart a disagreeable odor and taste to the flour they infest.

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