Confused flour beetle
Encyclopedia
The confused flour beetle (Tribolium confusum), a type of darkling beetle
known as a flour beetle
, is a common pest insect known for attacking and infesting stored flour and grain. They are one of the most common and most destructive insect pests for grain and other food products stored in silos, warehouses, grocery stores, and the home.
, Tribolium castaneum and the destructive flour beetle
, Tribolium destructor. Both the confused flour beetle and red flour beetle are small, about 1/8 to 1/4 inch in length, and reddish-brown in color. The primary distinguishing physical difference is the shape of their antennae: the confused flour beetle's antennae increase gradually in size and have four clubs, while the red flour beetle's antennae have only three. Additionally, red flour beetles have been known to fly short distances, while confused flour beetles do not.Tribolium destructor is much darker than either and less common.
The "confused" in the beetle's name is due to the erratic tracking pattern the beetle leaves when walking, often leaving distinctive tracking through flour and other dusts.
, the flour beetle, as well as cockroaches
and fruit flies
, were tested to determine their resistance to radiation in the event of a nuclear holocaust. In the end, the flour beetle was the only species tested to live 30 days past exposure to 100,000 rad
s (100 times the lethal dose to human beings, according to promotions of the episode).
Darkling beetle
Darkling beetles are a family of beetles found worldwide, estimated at more than 20,000 species. Many of the beetles have black elytra, leading to their common name...
known as a flour beetle
Flour beetle
Flour beetles are members of the darkling beetle genus Tribolium or Tenebrio. They are pests of cereal silos and are widely used as laboratory animals, as they are easy to keep. The flour beetles enjoy wheat and other grains and are adapted to survive in very dry environments and can withstand high...
, is a common pest insect known for attacking and infesting stored flour and grain. They are one of the most common and most destructive insect pests for grain and other food products stored in silos, warehouses, grocery stores, and the home.
Appearance
The confused flour beetle is very similar in appearance and habit to the red flour beetleRed flour beetle
The red flour beetle is a tenebrionid beetle. It is a worldwide stored product pest.Red flour beetles attack stored grain products causing loss and damage...
, Tribolium castaneum and the destructive flour beetle
Destructive flour beetle
The destructive or dark flour beetle , one of the species of darkling beetle known generally as flour beetles, is a common pest insect known for attacking and infesting stored flour and grain....
, Tribolium destructor. Both the confused flour beetle and red flour beetle are small, about 1/8 to 1/4 inch in length, and reddish-brown in color. The primary distinguishing physical difference is the shape of their antennae: the confused flour beetle's antennae increase gradually in size and have four clubs, while the red flour beetle's antennae have only three. Additionally, red flour beetles have been known to fly short distances, while confused flour beetles do not.Tribolium destructor is much darker than either and less common.
The "confused" in the beetle's name is due to the erratic tracking pattern the beetle leaves when walking, often leaving distinctive tracking through flour and other dusts.
Habits
While confused (and red) flour beetles cannot feed on whole, undamaged grain, they are often found in large numbers in infested grains, feeding on broken grain, grain dust, and other household food items like flour, rice, dried fruit, nuts, and beans. Both types of beetles are often found not only in infested grains, but in crevices in pantries and cabinets as well. Damage to food is caused somewhat by the beetles' feeding, but also by their dead bodies, fecal pellets, and foul-smelling secretions. In addition to creating a foul odor, the beetles' presence encourages the growth of mold.In popular culture
In an episode of MythbustersMythBusters
MythBusters is a science entertainment TV program created and produced by Beyond Television Productions for the Discovery Channel. The series is screened by numerous international broadcasters, including Discovery Channel Australia, Discovery Channel Latin America, Discovery Channel Canada, Quest...
, the flour beetle, as well as cockroaches
Cockroaches
A cockroach is an insect of the order Blattaria. "Cockroach" may also refer to:*Cockroach , a 2001 album by Danger Danger*Cockroach , a 2008 novel by Rawi Hage...
and fruit flies
Drosophila melanogaster
Drosophila melanogaster is a species of Diptera, or the order of flies, in the family Drosophilidae. The species is known generally as the common fruit fly or vinegar fly. Starting from Charles W...
, were tested to determine their resistance to radiation in the event of a nuclear holocaust. In the end, the flour beetle was the only species tested to live 30 days past exposure to 100,000 rad
RAD
Rad may mean:* Rad , a villainous character in AC Comics's "Femforce"* Rad , a 1986 release about a young BMX rider* Rad , several fictional characters in the Transformers toy line...
s (100 times the lethal dose to human beings, according to promotions of the episode).
External links
- Close-up photo on pbase.com
- Tribolium species are hard to identify. Here are four species side by side. Note that several species of Tribolium may occur in the same infestation.Colpolon