The Warehouse Beetle: It takes its name from the fact that it is the most common species found in warehouses. It has the broadest food preferences of any of these beetles, feeding on a wide variety of products including cereals, candy, cocoa, crackers, corn, cornmeal, fishmeal, pet food, flour, nuts, beans, and dried beans. , chips, pasta, spices and dead animals and insects. A closely related species, T. ornatum, is a museum pest, especially collections of insects. It is common in hollow tree crevices and in bird nests.
Summary
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- 1 Features
- 2 Life cycle
- 3 Damage
- 4 Color
- 5 Behavior
- 6 Risks to human health
- 7 Control
- 8 Prevent infestation
- 9 Sources
characteristics
This beetle may be the most common species found in the home. It feeds on the remains of dead rodents, dead insects, and rodent baits in basements and other places in the home. This beetle also attacks wool, feathers, fur, leather, glue, cocoons, grains, nuts , wheat , corn , malt, cayenne pepper , old flower bulbs, pumpkin seeds, beaver beans, and tobacco. One report speaks of T. ornatum larvae feeding directly on dead termites in dry-wood termite galleries. Another cosmopolitan species is the cupboard beetle, T. inclosum, which is a pest of seed collections.
Lifecycle
Eggs are laid individually and loosely deposited in processed products or in the cracks of whole almonds. The average duration of the egg phase is 7 days. There are normally 6 instar larvae, but pair larvae can diapause. Changes may continue at irregular intervals. The percentage of diapause increases from 32% to 67% when exposed to room temperature daily and this increases to 80% when handled / disturbed daily along with storage room temperature. Diapausing larvae can delay metamorphosis for as long as 2 years.
Damage
Warehouse beetles are voracious feeders. Seeds of all kinds, dead and animal insects, cereal products, cocoa candy, corn , cornmeal, dog food , fishmeal, flour, oatmeal , milk powder, spaghetti , spices, have been reported. peas, wheat, barley, and pollen. Grain cannot feed whole grain, but it can feed the broken nuclei that are usually present. A notable feature of warehouse beetle infestations is the accumulation of fur shed by larvae, which can moult up to ten times before metamorphosis. Hairs shed by larvae can cause asthma, skin or gastric problems.
Colour
Adults are dark brown and oval-shaped, with varied light brown and yellow pattern markings on wing covers. The larvae are light brown and have a long body covered in thick hair.
Behavior
Several members of the Trogoderma genus in the Dermestidae family of beetles are major pests of stored food products as well as textiles and fur. Both adults and larvae of Trogoderma beetles are difficult to distinguish from each other and an entomologist familiar with the taxonomy of these beetles is generally required. Species involved in this group include the Khapra beetle, T. granarium, warehouse beetles, T. variabile and T. ornatum, the largest cupboard beetle T. inclusum and T. glabrum.
Risks to human health
Trogoderma beetles are also considered a health hazard in food products. The hairs on the larvaeThey have barbs and have sharp tips. The hair that this beetle lets loose can irritate the mouth, esophagus, and digestive tract of many people who ingest it because it was in their food. The life history of Trogoderma beetles varies between species. For example, the female of the warehouse beetle, T. Vaiable, deposits up to 90 or more eggs within the infested food source. The larvae are very active and crawl through the infested product and also move to nearby areas to infest other food sources. In warm conditions, the full life cycle can be as short as 45 days. In contrast, the life cycle of T. ornatum, a very common species in homes, takes about 6 months from egg to adult, under optimal conditions. Adult females of the largest pantry beetle, T. inclosum, deposit up to 45 eggs in the food source and they open in 8 to 12 days. The complete life cycle of this species is reached in 6 months.
Control
Trogoderma beetle control involves many steps, mainly discovering infested food items and other sources of infestation (eg dead insects, animal remains, wool items). Since these beetles can survive on a wide variety of items, removing the infestation is very difficult, if not impossible, in many situations. All dry food products should be inspected for signs of infestation, including cereals, packaged dry foods (eg, granola and chocolate bars), and pet food. Window frames, lamps, and other locations should be checked for accumulation of dead insects.
Prevent infestation
- Discard infested food in the trash outdoors.
- Infested decorations (such as flowers or garlands) should also be discarded.
- You must get rid of bird nests, animal remains, accumulations of dead insects, and old rodent baits.
- Freeze suspected foods at -18 ° C for six days.
- Clean cabinets and covers where infested food has been stored using a vacuum cleaner and then washing with soap and water .
- Store all dry food products, including dry pet food and poultry seed, in a glass or plastic container with a tight-fitting lid. If beetles occur in that food product, then the infestation will be contained and will not spread to other products.
- Consider keeping your cereals and other foods in the refrigerator to limit pest problems from stored products.
- Consume the food products you have purchased before, and then the most recently purchased. Products purchased in large quantities (for example, from a wholesale company or warehouse-type company) are most likely to become a source of infestation, as they are stored for long periods of time. This especially if they are not stored in containers with tight lids.
