Eight common insect pests - Confused flour beetle

Confused flour beetle

Unlike the red flour beetle, the confused flour beetle is more common in flour mills than elsewhere, and the adults do not fly.

Appearance and behaviour

The adult:

  • Resembles that of the red flour beetle and is difficult to distinguish without using a microscope or magnifying glass

Larvae and adults feed on flour, feed, and other ground material.

Development

Complete development from egg to adult takes 15 to 20 days under optimal conditions, that is, when the temperature of the grain is between 32° and 35°C and and the moisture content is 14 to 15 percent.

Confused flour beetle image

dorsal view of the confused flour beetle More on the confused flour beetle