Warehouse beetle is a part of the skin beetles (Dermestidae) family found in the continents of North America, Central America, Asia, Oceania, and Europe. These pest beetles, particularly the larvae, mostly infest food stores, warehouses, and granaries, damaging cornmeal, wholemeal flour, noodles, oatmeal, barley, wheat kernels, and animal foods.
Size: 3 and 5 mm (0.11 – 0.19 inches)
Color: They mostly have a blackish-brown, dark brown, or reddish-brown coloration, with a mottled pattern visible in some. Their hairy elytra are primarily dark with red or brown bands.
Other Characteristic Features: They are elongated with an oval body and a narrow, tapering stature.
Being about 6 mm (0.24 inches) long when fully grown, the larva is yellowish-white at the onset, becoming darker upon maturation. Their abdominal tip is marked with long bristles and they are mostly found in stored food items.
In case of improper environmental conditions or less availability of food, the larva’s development slows down. causing it to go through several molting phases before pupating.
The pupal cases within which a whitish larva or blackish beetle remain enclosed are mostly oval and hairy. The pupation lasts for approximately five days, after which the adult beetle emerges.
About 90 eggs are laid by the female beetles during their lifetime that hatch in about a week.
| Lifespan | Few days to approximately six months (depending on the temperature, as they live a little more in cold weather) |
| Distribution | Central Asia, parts of Middle East, North America, Central America, Europe, Oceania |
| Habitat | Mostly in temperate environments, occurring in flour mills, dried milk factories, warehouses, store grain facilities, pantries, laundry rooms, and even in the nests of birds, bees, and rodents |
| Seasons active from | Mostly summer |
| Damage caused on | Cereals, dried fruits, seeds, pet foods, candy, nuts, woolen clothing, oatmeal, noodles, cornmeal, spices, animal residues, dog food |
| Diet of larvae and adults | Adults: Nectar, pollen, animal carcasses, dead insects like flies, ladybugs, and boxelder bugs(found in distribution centers and warehouses) Larvae: Pantry items such as seeds, candy, cereals, milk powder, cookies, pasta noodles, and dried pet food |
The larva causes more damage than adults. They mostly chew through the aluminum foils, plastic wrappings, or airtight containers, making small holes in them and spoiling the edibles.
However, they do not sting or bite humans but can result in digestive or respiratory distress if someone ingests the larvae accidentally.
Image Source: extensionentomology.tamu.edu, grainscanada.gc.ca, agric.wa.gov.au, insectslimited.files.wordpress.com, extension.usu.edu
Warehouse beetle is a part of the skin beetles (Dermestidae) family found in the continents of North America, Central America, Asia, Oceania, and Europe. These pest beetles, particularly the larvae, mostly infest food stores, warehouses, and granaries, damaging cornmeal, wholemeal flour, noodles, oatmeal, barley, wheat kernels, and animal foods.
Size: 3 and 5 mm (0.11 – 0.19 inches)
Color: They mostly have a blackish-brown, dark brown, or reddish-brown coloration, with a mottled pattern visible in some. Their hairy elytra are primarily dark with red or brown bands.
Other Characteristic Features: They are elongated with an oval body and a narrow, tapering stature.
Being about 6 mm (0.24 inches) long when fully grown, the larva is yellowish-white at the onset, becoming darker upon maturation. Their abdominal tip is marked with long bristles and they are mostly found in stored food items.
In case of improper environmental conditions or less availability of food, the larva’s development slows down. causing it to go through several molting phases before pupating.
The pupal cases within which a whitish larva or blackish beetle remain enclosed are mostly oval and hairy. The pupation lasts for approximately five days, after which the adult beetle emerges.
About 90 eggs are laid by the female beetles during their lifetime that hatch in about a week.
| Lifespan | Few days to approximately six months (depending on the temperature, as they live a little more in cold weather) |
| Distribution | Central Asia, parts of Middle East, North America, Central America, Europe, Oceania |
| Habitat | Mostly in temperate environments, occurring in flour mills, dried milk factories, warehouses, store grain facilities, pantries, laundry rooms, and even in the nests of birds, bees, and rodents |
| Seasons active from | Mostly summer |
| Damage caused on | Cereals, dried fruits, seeds, pet foods, candy, nuts, woolen clothing, oatmeal, noodles, cornmeal, spices, animal residues, dog food |
| Diet of larvae and adults | Adults: Nectar, pollen, animal carcasses, dead insects like flies, ladybugs, and boxelder bugs(found in distribution centers and warehouses) Larvae: Pantry items such as seeds, candy, cereals, milk powder, cookies, pasta noodles, and dried pet food |
The larva causes more damage than adults. They mostly chew through the aluminum foils, plastic wrappings, or airtight containers, making small holes in them and spoiling the edibles.
However, they do not sting or bite humans but can result in digestive or respiratory distress if someone ingests the larvae accidentally.
Image Source: extensionentomology.tamu.edu, grainscanada.gc.ca, agric.wa.gov.au, insectslimited.files.wordpress.com, extension.usu.edu
