Broadhorned flour beetle
Scientific name
Gnatocerus cornutus (F.)
Classification
Secondary pest; Grain feeder
Order: Coleoptera
Family: Tenebrionidae
Acronym: GCO
Description
- Adult males and females differ in appearance.
- Both genders are reddish brown and shiny, but females lack the horns found on males.
Images
Similar species
- Tribolium species
- Longheaded flour beetle (Latheticus oryzae)
- Smalleyed flour beetle (Palorus ratzeburgii)
Commodities affected
- Flour, meal, dried cereal and animal products
- Rice, maize, oil containing seeds, peanuts and cocoa beans
Signs of infestation
- Disagreeable odour in the commodity
- Large numbers indicates of broadhorned flour beetles indicates old stores of poor quality
Damage
- Prefers to feed on the protein-rich outer parts and starch of cereal grain
- Does not cause distinctive damage
How to control
Geographic range
- Is distributed worldwide
- Has been found across Canada
Where found
- Prefers flour and meal
- Is a minor pest of cereal and animal products
- Is reported mainly in flour mills and warehouses
- Is only able to survive winters in heated buildings
Life history
- In Canada, females lay eggs amongst the food.
- Larvae hatch and move freely among the food, feeding.
- Adults are relatively long lived (7 to 12 months), feed and are able to fly.
- This species is partially predatory, feeding on living and dead insects, as well as other animal protein sources when available.
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