Black fungus beetle
Alphitobius laevigatus (Fabricius)

Order: Coleoptera
Family: Tenebrionidae
Acronym: ALA

Ecology

The black fungus beetle is worldwide in distribution. In Canada it is only found in southern Ontario. It is closely related to the lesser mealworm (Alphitobius diaperinus) and is similar in appearance and has similar habits. It is found less commonly than the lesser mealworm. The black fungus beetle is a scavenger and feeds on fungus and it thrives in damp and moldy conditions. It is not usually found in clean sound grain. The black fungus beetle larva and adult feed on broken grains, wheat, cowpeas, barley and rice that are out of condition. It has not been recorded in poultry houses.

Damage

The black fungus beetle is a minor pest and less important than the lesser mealworm. The black fungus beetle’s damage is not distinctive. Both the adult and larva are general feeders. A sign of infestation is a disagreeable odour in the commodity.

Life history

The adult is reddish brown to black. It is 5.5 to 7 mm long. It is oval and the pronotum is convex. The adult black fungus beetle can be distinguished from the adult lesser meal worm by the shape of its eye. The eye is 1 facet wide at its narrowest point when viewed from the side. Viewed from the side, the eye appears divided. The adult is long lived. If temperatures stay between 21 and 34°C, the adult can live for 400 days. Adults can fly.

The female lays eggs in clumps, sticking the eggs to the food material. The female will lay about 4 eggs per day. On average 300 eggs are laid during a lifetime.

The larva is yellow-brown, cylindrical in shape and is very active. At the end of the larval stage, it constructs a pupal chamber in the commodity and pupates there. Development conditions are temperatures in the range of 25°C and 35°C and a relative humidity of 80-90%. In these conditions, the life cycle can be completed in 35 days.

Control

Controlling insect infestations

Images

Adult: Black fungus beetle - Alphitobius laevigatus

Natasha Wright, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Bugwood.org
Adult black fungus beetle

Natasha Wright, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Bugwood.org
Adult black fungus beetle - side view