The confused flour beetle gets its
name because it is
often confused with its nearly identical relative the red flour beetle.
The red
flour beetle can fly, however, while the confused flour beetle cannot.
Both
beetles are most common in processed grain products, where their
flattened
bodies permit them to work their way into almost any package. Food
heavily
infested by these beetles often develop a grayish tint and take on an
unpleasant odor.
Diet
Flour beetles are
scavengers that cannot attack whole
grains—they must rely on other insects such as rice weevils or lesser
grain
borers to first damage the kernels. They are know as “bran bugs”
because of
their preference for flour and flour by-products.
Insect control: confused flour
beetles
Discard all infested packages. Clean spilled grain and
infested cabinet areas using a vacuum followed by soapy water. Store
all dried food
goods in a glass or plastic container with a tight lid to limit
spreading if
one food becomes infested. Consider storing cereals and similar foods
in the
refrigerator to limit stored pantry pest problems.
