Lesson 3: Red Flour Beetle

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Lesson 3 Red Flour Beetle
The adult is about 3-4 mm long, rather flat,
oblong, and chestnut brown (Fig.). It lays up
to 450 eggs in the stored produce. The egg is
minute, cylindrical, and white. Depending on
weather conditions there may be 4-7 generations a
year and 1 generation may take 1-4 months.
Adult Beetle
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Lesson 3 Red Flour Beetle
The yellowish-white cylindrical grub is covered
with fine hairs and becomes fully grown in 27-29
days (Fig.). The optimum conditions for the
development of this pest are 35C and 70
relative humidity.
Grub of Red Flour Beetle
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Lesson 3 Red Flour Beetle
Damage Adult beetles can be readily observed by
the tunnels constructed when they move through
flour or other granular food products. When
attack is severe, the sorghum grains turn grayish
yellow and become moldy, with a pungent smell.
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Lesson 3 Red Flour Beetle
Management Storing products in sealed containers
provides effective control. Fumigants are also
effective.