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World-wide distribution for both species.
Almost always associated with stored food commodities including animal feeds and
flour. Populations are established in ships holds, storage silos, flour mills,
bakeries and pantries around the globe. Microhabitats in large industrial situations
include machines and process equipment where build up of old food substrates allow
completion of life cycle. |
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"Confused" and Red
Flour Beetles
Image Copyright - Aventis
Environmental Science 1964. Reproduced with kind permission of Aventis Environmental
Science. |
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A highly significant, widely distributed and
successful primary pest in the milling industry. Although it will infest stored
grain, it tends to be as a secondary pest which prefers to colonise materials already
attacked by primary grain pests. Economic loss
due to this insect alone is high, due to it's tendency to taint food substrates with
secretions. |
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Complete metamorphosis life cycle. Females
lay up to 450 eggs over their lives which may be as long as 18 months depending upon
conditions. Life cycle may be completed in 7 weeks at 25�c but in warmer conditions
such as those in bakeries, this may be reduced to 3 weeks. This high breeding
potential can lead to very large infestations in suitable conditions. |
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Good hygiene practise and harbourage denial are
essential in controlling infestations of flour beetles. Monitoring systems are
available and can be used to target the use of insecticidal treatments. Quarantine
of inbound commodities is recommended. Fumigation where necessary and atmosphere and
/ or temperature control may also be applicable options. |
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