Small and oval shaped, the Black Carpet Beetle is a black colour with brown legs and short antennae. Books and manuscripts may also be attacked The larvae are able to penetrate tinfoil and sheet lead. Infested products may be contaminated and products and packaging may be damaged. In a warm atmosphere, there may be as many as four generations per year.īiscuit beetles feed on a wide range of cereal crops and beverage concentrates. It lays its eggs on a food source and once they begin to hatch the larvae continue to feed on the food. These insects are winged but tend to travel by transferring from one food source to the next. With such a varied diet it is found in a wide range of places, as it will survive on any type of food. flour, bread, it is an indiscriminate eater and will feast on a wide variety of products from furs and leather to spices and even pharmaceutical products. It is also a serious pest of agricultural grain storage.Ī pest of cereal products e.g. They are fond of warmth and so are widely prevalent in shops and domestic larders, infesting a wide variety of dried matter and stored food products. The Biscuit Beetle, which is also commonly known at the Drugstore Beetle, has distinctive longitudinal grooves along its wing cover and its antennae end in three enlarged segments.Ī cosmopolitan pest, it can be found all across the world but is particularly prevalent in warmer regions and can survive in heated structures in more temperate climates. The have a cylindrical body that appears to be humped and are covered in dense short yellowish hairs. Oval shaped and reddish-brown in colour, the adult is 2-3.5mm long. Moth larvae usually fly to a hidden site away from the food source to pupate, adults then mate and eggs are deposited on or in suitable food.Įmerging beetle adults feed on grain or find shelter in the structure of the silo/warehouse prior to invading new food sources. Eggs are laid in the grain or part-processed food (flour, bran etc.) where the larvae feed through to the pupal stage. ![]() This may occur in succession – primary then secondary. ![]() The main lepidopteron pests are secondary they feed regularly on processed foods so are more common in domestic kitchens and larders.Ī variety of pests infest stored grain. Secondary beetle pests include the flour beetles (Triboliumconfusumand T.castaneum) Primary coleopteran pests include grain weevils (Sitophilusgranarius, S.zeamais, S.oryzae),the lesser grain borer (Rhyzoperthadominica) and the saw-toothed grain beetle (Oryzaephilussurinamensis.) Understanding Primary and Secondary Pests Losses can amount to 10% or more of the commodity through spoilage or secondary fungal infection. Within each group, some species are considered as primary pests, they attack the whole grain, while others follow the initial damage as secondary pests. If you are having an issue with drugstore beetles, it is best to consult a professional pantry pest control company for removal.Stored product pests fall into two main insect orders: This means a drugstore beetle infestation in a home pantry or business can cause considerable monetary damage. ![]() Since the female drugstore beetle can lay more than 100 eggs at a time, she can make entire batches of food products unsalable. It is in the larval stage that beetles do the most damage as they live, eat, and excrete waste within the products they’ve infested. They are considered unwanted pests due to the problems they cause for homeowners and businesses. Drugstore Beetle Behaviors, Threats, or Dangersĭrugstore beetles do not bite people and are not known to spread disease. Adult drugstore beetles can fly, bore through wood, and can be identified by their rapid skittering movement. Seasonings, grains, pet foods, books, wooden objects, and even aluminum foil, are popular items infested by these beetles. Female drugstore beetles lay their eggs in almost any dry organic substance. The drugstore beetle thrives in warmer climates but can be found worldwide, especially in climate-controlled structures. The larvae of the drugstore beetle can cause considerable harm as they chew their way through food, herbs, and plants, leaving holes, damaging products, and making the food unusable. This beetle acquired its name from its tendency to eat herbs and plants which were often used in making many drugs, including poisonous substances such as belladonna and strychnine. The drugstore beetle, also known as the bread beetle or biscuit beetle, is a common insect that infests stored foods, seeds, and other materials.
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