Warehouse beetle

Classification

Secondary pest; Grain feeder and scavenger
Order: Coleoptera
Family: Dermestidae
Acronym: TVA

Description

• Adults are oval and 2.0 to 4.6 mm in length with females being larger than males.
• Elytra are generally dark with different coloured contrasting bands that vary from brown to red.
• Adults are generally is dark brown with 3 lighter brown or reddish bands.
• Larvae are whitish yellow initially and darken with age.
• Larvae are typical dermestid larvae with tufts of dense hairs on the posterior segments.

Similar species

• Other Trogoderma species
• Anthrenus species
• Anthrenocerus species

Commodities affected

• Stored seeds, legumes, canola, nuts, animal feed, barley, wheat, pollen

Signs of infestation

• Presence of cast larval skins is the most readily identifiable sign of infestation

Damage

• Warehouse beetle is a generalist feeder that does not cause distinctive damage
• Larvae cause damage when they feed. Adults feed on nectar and pollen
• Larvae damage all parts of the seed except for the shell
• Larvae can infest bagged grain and processed, packaged food

How to control

• Control grain insect pests

Geographic range

• Is distributed worldwide and across Canada

Where found

• Is found in flour and feed mills, processing plants, feed warehouses, dried milk factories and in stored grain
• Is a pest in alfalfa leafcutter bee nests

Life history

• Females lay eggs randomly on dried plant or animal material.
• Development time ranges from 30 to 45 days, on average.
• Larvae are able to enter diapause (dormant state) when developmental conditions are unsuitable.