RED FLOUR BEETLE

RED FLOUR BEETLE
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 1/8th 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.

Red flour beetle anatomy

1.Antenna- 3 segmented club
2.Eyes
3.Head
4.Legs- 6
5.Wings- under elytra
6.Thorax- almost straight
7.Petiole- none
8.Abdomen- oval, flattened
9.Color- red-brown
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, and it can live for up to three years.