Confused Flour Beetle

Natural Habitat

Commonly found in pantries, food processing plants, warehouses, and grocery stores where dried food products are stored. They prefer warm, humid environments.

Diet & Feeding

Omnivorous scavengers, primarily feeding on (or in) flour, cereals, pasta, biscuits, dried pet food, nuts, dried fruit, spices, chocolate, and other stored food products. They cannot feed on whole grains unless the kernels are damaged.

Behavior Patterns

Confused flour beetles are known for their ability to infest stored products. They are not strong fliers, so they often spread through contaminated food items. They tend to bore into kernels and other food sources. Under favorable conditions, populations can increase rapidly. They give off a strong odor and may turn flour pinkish-yellow. Adults can live for over a year.

Risks & Benefits

Potential risks include infesting and contaminating stored food products, rendering them inedible or reducing their quality. They can cause significant economic losses in food industries. There are no known benefits to humans or the ecosystem provided by this pest.

Identified on: 7/2/2025