
Community identification
Red Flour Beetle
Tribolium castaneum
- Order & Family
- Order: Coleoptera; Family: Tenebrionidae
- Size
- 3.0 to 4.5 mm
Natural Habitat
Found in grain processing facilities, silos, pantries, and warehouses
Diet & Feeding
Stored grain products, flour, cereal, dry pet food, and spices
Behavior Patterns
Nocturnal and highly reproductive; females can lay up to 450 eggs; they are known for their ability to fly toward lights
Risks & Benefits
Significant pantry pest that can spoil food products; they emit odorous secretions that affect the taste and smell of food but do not pose direct health risks via disease