Black fungus beetle
Scientific name
Alphitobius laevigatus (Fabricius)
Classification
Secondary pest; Fungus feeder and scavenger
Order: Coleoptera
Family: Tenebrionidae
Acronym: ALA
Description
- Adults are dark reddish brown to black and 5.5 to 7.0 mm in length.
- Adults can be distinguished from lesser mealworm based on the appearance of lateral view of the eye. The black fungus beetle's eye is only one facet wide at its narrowest point.
- Larvae are yellow brown in colour and cylindrical in shape.
Images
Similar species
- Lesser mealworm (Alphitobius diaperinus)
Commodities affected
- Is a fungal feeder and scavenger on a wide variety of stored products
Signs of infestation
- No specific signs of infestation are associated with this species
Damage
- Black fungus beetle does not feed directly on commodity
- Presence of beetles indicates poor sanitation
How to control
Geographic range
- Is distributed throughout the world
- In Canada, it is only recorded from southern Ontario
Where found
- Is a scavenger, thriving in damp and mouldy conditions
- Has been recorded outside of Canada, in animal houses, feeding on feces and dead animals
- Unlike the lesser mealworm, it has not been recorded from poultry houses in Canada
- Has not been documented in stored products in Canada
Life history
- Adults are relatively long lived (400 days) and can fly.
- Adults lay eggs in clumps amongst the food source.
- Larvae move actively amongst the food source.
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