Lesser Mealworm BeetleThe lesser mealworm beetle, Alphitobius diaperinus is a smaller beetle measuring about ¼ inch to 1/6 inch (4 to 6mm) long. It is a dark reddish-brown color with strong ridges on the wing covers. The upper corners of the prothorax behind the head are acutely rounded and the sides are nearly straight and […]
Category Archives: Non Vector
Red-Legged Ham BeetleThe red legged ham beetle is an easily recognized beetle due to its coloration. It is an oblong-shaped beetle with the head and being narrower than its rear end. Larger specimens measure about ¼ inch (7mm). The body is colored a metallic bluish-green and its legs and the first few segments of the […]
Damage Damaged kernels are the ones most frequently attacked by these beetles, however, the grain borers are capable of invading undamaged grain. Lesser grain borers also infest corn, wheat, barley, rice, and has been known to attack wood and books. Infestation in flour and dried cassave also have been encountered. Biology and life cycle The […]
Characteristics Black Fungus Beetle Two fungus beetles that infest food products are closed related to the lesser mealworm beetle. The black fungus beetle, Alphitobius laevigatus is of similar size (1/4”, 6mm), shape and coloring to the lesser mealworm beetle, however, its eyes when viewed from the side, are different. The eye of the black fungus […]
Foreign Grain BeetleThe foreign grain beetle, Ahasverus advena, is a small and flattened beetle about 1/12 inch (2mm) long. It is reddish brown and has a three-segmented antennal club. The key identifying character is the sharp points at the front, outer edges of the prothorax. Damage In most areas, foreign grain beetle is of minor […]
Flour BeetleThe flour beetles belong to the Family Tenebrionidae which also contains the larger mealworm beetles and the darkling beetles. Tenebrionids can be distinguished from similar looking beetles by examining the tarsi on the legs. On these beetles, the front and middle legs have five-segmented tarsi while the tarsi of the hind legs has only […]
Carpet BeetleAnthrenus flavipes, are slightly larger and rounder than the varied carpet beetle adult. Coloration and markings of the adult are highly variable, but they generally have a mottled appearance due to white and dark yellow to orange scales interspersed with black spots on their elytra; if these scales have been worn off, they may […]
Dried Fruit BeetleThe dried fruit beetle is a small, flat oval-shaped beetle about 1/8 inch (4 mm) in length that is dark brown to black in colour. Like most sap beetles of the family Nitidulidae, the elytra (wing covers) of this beetle are fairly short, leaving a portion of the abdomen exposed. The wing covers […]
Damage They infest boxes of stored, dried insects. The setae or “hairs” of Trogoderma larvae are important health hazards and are one of the reasons health and food regulatory officials are so concerned about infestations of these beetles. The setae are shed within the food product infested by the larvae and are present on the […]
CadellesCharacteristics The cadelle is a black beetle that is larger than most stored product beetles being about 1/3 inch (6 to 11 mm) long. It has a flattened body and may resemble a ground beetle (Carabidae) to an untrained eye. The key identifying character to examine is the point where the prothorax joins the elytra […]