This small beetle is reddish brown and up to 4.5 mm long. The last three segments of the 11-segmented antennae are abruptly enlarged to form a club. The immature stage is approximately 4–5 mm long, white to yellowish in colour, and wiry in appearance. The last abdominal segment ends with two prominent points.
Heavy infestations of flour by this insect may cause the product to turn greyish or mold prematurely. This insect can also impart a nauseous smell and taste from its scent glands to the infested material. Both adults and larvae cause damage.
This beetle is an extremely important pest of flour but also feeds on moist milled grain products, grain dust, broken kernels, processed beans, nuts, spices, chocolate, and pharmaceuticals once these products are damaged by primary stored food products.
Females will deposit 400–500 eggs in food or food sacks during a two-year or longer lifespan. Eggs hatch in 5–12 days; the larvae can mature within 22 days or as long as 120 days depending on temperature, type of foodstuff, and relative humidity. The life cycle for one generation is about 20 days. Consequently, the reproductive rate is usually high. This species is capable of flight but seldom flies.
Red Flour Beetles Removal servicing all of Durham, York Region, and the entire GTA, including Pickering, Ajax, Whitby, Oshawa, Brooklin, Bowmanville, Courtice, Port Perry, and surrounding areas, Affordable Pest Control are experts at mice extermination. We are Pest Control Richmond Hill, Pest Control Markham, Pest Control Scarborough, Pest Control Vaughan. We also provide mouse control and removal services for York Region including Markham, Vaughan, Thornhill, Richmond Hill, Woodbridge, Stouffville, Uxbridge, Newmarket, East Gwillimbury, Maple, Georgina, and King City.