Tenebroides mauritanicus, commonly known as the cadelle beetle, is a cosmopolitan

Cosmopolitan distribution

In biogeography, a taxon is said to have a cosmopolitan distribution if its range extends across all or most of the world in appropriate habitats. For instance, the killer whale has a cosmopolitan distribution, extending over most of the world's oceans. Other examples include humans, the lichen...

 and common pest in storehouse and granaries.It is one of the longest lived insects which attacks stored grain and is very destructive and easily dispersed. It is also one of the largest (body length 10 mm.).

The larva would frequently infest ships' biscuits, these large white maggots were nicknamed "bargemen".

External links

• University of Kentucky
• ZinRus Very high quality image.

See also Home stored product entomology

Home stored product entomology

Home stored product entomology is the study of insects which infest foodstuffs stored in the home. It deals with the prevention, detection and eradication of the pests...