Large flour beetle
Scientific name
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
- Broadhorned flour beetle (Gnatocerus cornutus)
- Longheaded flour beetle (Latheticus oryzae)
- Other Tribolium 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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