European black flour beetle
Tribolium madens (Charpentier)

Order: Coleoptera
Family: Tenebrionidae
Acronym: TMA

Ecology

The European black flour beetle is found in mainly in Europe. It was first discovered in North America in 1977 and in Canada in 1979. In Canada, it was reported to have infested railcars of loose and bagged flour. It has been reported in Manitoba, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Quebec and Ontario. It feeds on flour, meal, seeds, grain and processed cereals. It has also been found in flour mills and warehouses. It is similar in appearance to the American black flour beetle, Tribolium audax. It is less commonly encountered than the American black flour beetle. It is moderately adapted to a temperate climate.

Damage

The European black flour beetle is a minor pest. It is reported to have infested many railcars of flour in the 1980s in Canada. At that time, railcar construction allowed for debris and grain buildup. In Europe, the beetle is also reported to be a pest of honeybee hives where it feeds on bee pollen. Both the adult and larva are general feeders. Damage is not distinct and a sign of infestation is a disagreeable odour in the commodity.

Life history

The adult is dark brown to black. It is 3.9 to 5.1 mm long. It is oval and robust. It has sparse pits on the surface of its head between its eyes. These pits do not meet beneath the eye. It has a large oval eye compared to the American black flour beetle (round). Adults can live up to 3 years in temperate conditions.

The female lays eggs up to 1000 eggs at random loosely in the food source.

The larva is cylindrical and dark brown in color. It is active. It may eat smaller insects and other larvae. The larva has a short development time. It will pupate in the food source. The optimum conditions for development are temperatures between 30°C and 35°C, with a relative humidity from 65-90% where the life cycle can be completed in 25-30 days.

Control

Controlling insect infestations