Stored product pests
These include the Flour Beetle, Sawtooth Grain and Merchant
Grain Beetle, Rice and Grain Weevil, Indian Meal Moth, Mill Wine
and Warehouse Agoumois moths, Mites, Yellow Mealworm Beetle,
Australian and Golden Spider Beetles, Biscuit, Larder, Cigarette,
Warehouse, Khapora, Hide and Cadelle Beetle and the Lesser Grain
Borer.
Most of these insects are very small and infest products like
grain, flour, cheese ,chocolate etc. They are sometime brought into
domestic kitchens through packets of flour/sugar etc that has been
infested elsewhere. People who are not in the industry of food
production or pest control never really realise what a battle is
fought to make sure that the products which come to you do not
contain these pests. Food factories, bakeries, supermarkets,
suppliers, farmers, breeders, the list goes on and on, all are
bound by the Food Regulations and Environmental Health to ensure
that the environment they produce their product in is the cleanest
and most hygienic possible. One of the main aspects of this regime
is pest control.
So many of the products used in this country are of course
imported, hence there are very strict regulations governing the
risk of also importing pests along with the product.
Controlling stored product pests/ larder beetles
The first step in controlling larder beetle infestations is
locating the food source. Both larvae and adults tend to travel
long distances, and finding one or two does not necessarily mean
locating the infestation. In homes, inspect kitchen cabinets,
shelves and spaces under ovens and refrigerators. Sheds where
animal feed is stored should be inspected. Attics and basements
should be checked for the presence of dead rodents, birds, bats or
insects.
The best way to prevent and control larder beetle infestations
is exclusion and good housekeeping practices. Keeping stored foods
in tightly sealed containers and properly disposing of garbage will
eliminate odours attractive to beetles. To prevent invasion from
the outside, it is helpful to install tightly fitting door and
window screens and seal all external holes and cracks.
Residual insecticides can be applied as dusts or sprays.
Infested vertebrate specimens or insect collections should be
fumigated.
Safety
If insecticides are used you should follow the instructions
carefully.
- Always take great care when using insecticides.
- Do not use spray insecticides while children are in the
room.
- Cover fish tanks when using sprays.
- Wash hands immediately after use
Flour Beetle
Flour beetles are pests of flour and cereal products. They are
among the most important pests of flour and stored products. They
are common in homes and grocery stores. They also infest mills and
food processing facilities.
Two of the most common flour beetles are the confused flour
beetle, Tribolium confusum (duVal), and the red flour beetle,
Tribolium castaneum (Herbst). These are small beetles. The adults
are about 1/8” long. They are reddish brown in colour. There are
differences between the antennae of these two beetles. Since these
insects are so small, it usually requires a magnifying glass to
recognize these differences.
The flour beetles are a large group of insects. Flour beetles do
not attack whole grains. The female beetle deposits eggs directly
on flour, cereal, dry pet food, or other similar product. The
females deposit a few eggs each day in the food that she is eating.
The egg laying can last several months. The eggs are hard to see in
flour or meal.
Adult flour beetles can crawl into packages that appear to be
sealed. Infestations can easily spread from one product on a shelf
to several different products. People can transport infested
products from place to place. As they eat, the beetles cause flour
to become discoloured and develop a disagreeable odour.
The larvae hatch and begin to eat the material where they
hatched. The larvae are about ¼” long. Flour beetles can develop
from egg to adult in as little as seven weeks. In warm
environments, there can be 4 or 5 generations per year.
Controlling flour beetles starts with a thorough inspection.
Every infested package should be thrown away. Vacuum the pantry and
cabinet shelves. This will remove food particles. Store new food
products in sealed containers to prevent new infestations.
Insecticide application is the last step. The insecticide should
go into cracks and crevices. The object is to eliminate any flour
beetles that may be hiding. The crack and crevice application
requires special application equipment. It is advisable to call a
pest control professional or the councils pest control service.