Community identification
Red flour beetle (likely)
Tribolium castaneum
- Order & Family
- Coleoptera; Tenebrionidae
- Size
- Adults are about 3–4 mm long; the pictured insect appears consistent with this size and shape.
Natural Habitat
Stored-grain products, pantries, mills, warehouses, and occasionally bait or kitchen areas.
Diet & Feeding
Adults and larvae feed on flour, meal, cereal, grain dust, dried pet food, and other processed grain products.
Behavior Patterns
Adults are reddish-brown, nocturnal, and often hide in packaging or cracks. Females lay eggs in food material; development is fastest in warm, humid conditions.
Risks & Benefits
They contaminate stored food with bodies, feces, and odor, but do not bite or transmit significant human disease. They have minor ecological value as decomposers and prey.