Red flour beetle

EHTISHAM ALI HUSSAIN�BAGF15E258�University College Of Agriculture,
University of Sargodha���
[email protected]

1. Red flour beetle EHTISHAM ALI HUSSAIN BAGF15E258 University College Of Agriculture, University of Sargodha

2. Taxonomy Red Flour Beetle Technical Name : Tribolium castaneum Family : Tenebrionidae Order : Coleoptera

3. Ocurrance Insect of warmer climates . Found in cereal mills F ood processing plants , grocery stores, domestic households . Optimal temperature required is 35

4. Identification Adult The adult red flower beetle is approximately 3-4 mm long and are flat body Chewing mouth parts

5. EGGS Eggs are approximately 0.5 mm long, cylindrical and white or colourless . Up to 450 eggs are laid singly at a rate of 2-10 per day, depending on temperature.

6. Larvae The  larvae  are yellowish- white,slender , and cylindrical and covered with fine hair. The  head  is pale-brown and the last segment of the abdomen   has two upturned dark, pointed structures .

7. Pupae The pupa does not have a cocoon and is yellowish- white , becoming brown later.

8. Life Cycle Females lay between 300-400 eggs in their 5-8 month adult lifespan . Under optimum conditions of 35°C and 60-80% relative humidity , The development times for each stage are approximately 3 days for eg.gs , 16 days for  larvae  and 5 days for pupae

9. Life Cycle 8 days Adult Pupa Egg Larva 30 days 8 days

10. Damage Both adult and larvae cause damage to flour. Damage is greatest during the hot and monsoon season. The   red flour beetle   attacks stored grain and other food products including  flour , cereals , pasta, biscuits, beans, and nuts, causing loss and  damage.

11. Control Cultural control : Keep storage units dry. Clean old containers before filling them with fresh food. Do not mix old and new lots of foodstuffs . Exposure of the grain to sun light Coat the seed with small quantities of vegetable oil or mix neem leaves in the stored grain

12. Chemical Control : Fumigation with aluminum phosphide protects the seed without affecting the viability