American rice flour beetle

Tribolium confusum

The American rice mealybug is one of the most dangerous synanthropic pests of all. Originally from Africa, it has now spread all over the world. Its occurrence has increased rapidly in recent decades. It is one of the most common flour pests and has a very broad food spectrum. It attacks Grains of all kinds, pulses, pasta, chocolate, nuts, animal feed, natural food collections, dried fruit and vegetables. The excreted defensive secretions increase the spoilage of infested foodstuffs and animal feed and can be harmful to health. Beetle maroon, 4 mm long. Fine dotted stripes and longitudinal ribs on the elytra. Eggs 300-600, larvae yellowish-brown, up to 8 mm long. Development time from egg to beetle at room temperature approx. 3-4 months. Several generations per year. Little resistant to cold and lack of food.