Page 62 - Florida Pest Control Examinations

RED FLOUR BEETLE CONFUSED FLOUR BEETLE RED FLOUR BEETLE
EYES ARE SPACED EYES ARE SPACED
CLOSER TOGETHER FURTHER APART

Photo Courtesy of UNIVAR Photo Courtesy of UNIVAR
1.Antenna- 3 segmented club 6.Thorax- almost straight RED FLOUR BEETLE
2.Eyes 7.Petiole- none
3.Head 8.Abdomen- oval, flattened 1 6 8
4.Legs- 6 9.Color- red-brown
5.Wings- under elytra 10.Other- never observed flying

Life Cycle
About 400-500 eggs will be laid on or near the products these beetles infest,
being laid at a rate of 2-3 per day. In 1-2 weeks they will hatch into larvae,
which then go through 5 to 12 instars, taking from one to four months to
complete the larval cycle. Four to five generations can be produced in one year, 4
and it can live for up to three years. Photo Courtesy of UNIVAR

RED FLOUR BEETLE Actual size 1/8”
A major pest of store food products both in grocery stores and in the home, infesting grain
products, nuts, dried fruits, peas, beans, spices, and other organic materials. Only about 1/8
th
inch in size, it is almost identical to the Confused Flour beetle, but prefers warmer climates. It
will spread much more rapidly than the Confused Flour beetle.

1.Antenna- 4 segmented club 6.Thorax- almost straight CONFUSED FLOUR BEETLE
2.Eyes 7.Petiole- none
3.Head 8.Abdomen- oval, flattened 1 6 8
4.Legs- 6 9.Color- red-brown
5.Wings- under elytra 10.Other- never observed flying
Life Cycle
The female will lay 400-500 eggs on or near the products they infest,
laid at a rate of 2-3 per day. In 1-2 weeks they hatch into larvae, which
go through 5 to 12 instars which take from one to four months to com-
plete their cycle. Four to five generations can be produced in one year. 4 Photo Courtesy of UNIVAR

CONFUSED FLOUR BEETLE Actual size 1/8”

One of the most important pests of stored food products, this beetle will eat grain products,
nuts, peas, beans, spices, tobacco, dried fruits, and other organic materials. The adults are
about 1/8th inch in size, and are reddish-brown colored. The name comes from original confu-
sion in identifying this pest. It has a four-segmented club that is not easily visible, unlike other
flour beetles.

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