Flour Beetles

General Description
Two of the most commonly found flour beetles are the confused flour beetle (Tribolium confusum) and the red flour beetle (T. castaneum). Virtually identical, the confused and red flour beetle are around three-sixteenth of an inch long with flattened bodies well-adapted to crawling into tiny crevices. The larvae of both the confused and red flour beetle are less than one-eighth of an inch long and feed on flour and food products made from ground and processed grains.

General Control
Flour beetles feed on almost every food consumed by people and their pets so one may encounter these beetles more than any other stored food pest. Thorough inspection is required to discover the source of flour beetle infestations. Sanitation and proper storage of food is necessary to control flour beetles. Items should be inspected for infestation before being stored in the facility. Temperatures above 120 F for several hours will kill flour beetles.