{"id":3934,"date":"2013-01-14T17:48:18","date_gmt":"2013-01-14T22:48:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/home-and-garden-ipm\/?page_id=3934"},"modified":"2025-03-21T13:16:10","modified_gmt":"2025-03-21T17:16:10","slug":"flour-beetles","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/home-and-garden-ipm\/fact-sheets\/common-name-listing\/flour-beetles\/","title":{"rendered":"Flour Beetles"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Photo<\/a>Flour beetles<\/strong> are a type of darkling beetle.\u00a0 They consume wheat and other grains, and are adapted to survive in very dry environments.\u00a0 They are not known to carry or spread any diseases that affect humans, nor do they attack anything other than grain or starch foods (at least not for very long).\u00a0 However, in search of their favorite foods, they may become an annoyance, invading all areas of a home.\u00a0 They are a major pest in agriculture and are highly resistant to insecticides.<\/p>\n

There are two flour beetles commonly found in Maine: the Confused Flour Beetle<\/strong> and the Red Flour Beetle<\/strong>.\u00a0 They are similar in habits and appearance, and both beetles primarily infest flour and, to a small extent, foods made of processed grains.\u00a0 Confused flour beetles and red flour beetles are often found together.\u00a0 Even though they cannot attack whole grains, there are usually enough broken kernels and grain dust available (caused by the rubbing of grain during handling) for these beetles to survive. Any home can be invaded by these beetles through the transportation and storage of grains or grain products such as cereals, macaroni, flour, birdseed, etc.\u00a0 The Broad-horned Flour Beetle<\/strong> is far less common in Maine as it is found mainly in flour mills and warehouses that remain heated throughout the winter.<\/p>\n\n\t\t