Large flour beetle

Tribolium destructor Uyttenboogaart

Classification

Primary pest (mills); grain feeder
Order: Coleoptera
Family: Tenebrionidae
Acronym: TDE

Description

  • Adults are dark brown and large in size (4.5 to 5.7 mm long, the largest of the Tribolium species)..
  • As with other species of Tribolium, the eye on adults is divided; 2 eye facets wide at the narrowest point.
  • Larvae are typical of the Tribolium, yellowish with dark bands, a dark head capsule and dark urogomphi.

Images

Similar species

Commodities affected

  • Seeds, cereals, flour, stored grain, bran, dry bakery products, bird feed, dog food

Signs of infestation

  • Disagreeable odour in the commodity is an early indication

Damage

  • Are generalist feeders and damage is not readily attributable to this pest

How to control

Geographic range

  • Is found in Africa, Asia, Europe and North America
  • In Canada, it is found from coast to coast

Where found

  • Is found in flour mills, bakeries, dwellings

Life history

  • Females lay eggs randomly amongst the commodity.
  • Large flour beetle is not tolerant of temperatures higher than 30oC.

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