Insect of the Month: Red-Legged Ham Beetle (Necrobia rufipes)
Adult Red-Legged Ham Beetles move quickly and will fly in warm temperatures.
Red-legged ham beetles eat many meat based products, similar in moisture to beef jerky. This includes many types of pet food, pet treats and meat for human consumption.
They also feed on the larvae of other insect larvae, including their own.
Signs of infestation are white silken cocoons on infested food items, cracks/crevices, and fibrous or furry textiles such as meaty dog treats, tennis balls, and wooden furniture.
What do red-legged ham beetles look like?
Red-Legged Ham Beetle Adults: Adults are 3.5-7 mm (0.25 inch) long and metallic greenish-blue in color with red legs.
Red-Legged Ham Beetle Eggs: Eggs are detectable under microscopic examination of infested items. Oval and white in color.
Red-Legged Ham Beetle Larvae: Larvae are approximately 10 mm (0.4 inches) long with dark brownish body and reddish brown head. Move relatively quickly.
Red-Legged Ham Beetle Pupae: Pupae are contained within a silken cocoon and are 3.5-7 mm (0.25 inches) long depending on where the cocoon is located. Built in cracks, crevices, holes, and fibrous or furry items.
What is the red-legged ham beetle life cycle?
Females can lay up to 2000 eggs depending on temperature, humidity, and food quality. Females deposit eggs in cracks and crevices of food items to protect them from the adult beetles. Eggs hatch in 4-8 days. Larval development occurs over 35–130 days. Larvae will sometimes migrate from food sources to pupate in hidden locations. Adults emerge from the pupa after 6-9 days. Total development time from egg to adult is 1.5- 5 months.
Pheromone Traps for Red-Legged Ham Beetle
Monitoring Guidelines for Red-Legged Ham Beetle (Necrobia rufipes)
Click on the image or insect name above to view monitoring guidelines for red-legged ham beetles. These guidelines include details on Description, Lifecycle, Damage and Detection, Corresponding Products, Fun Facts, and more!
Stay tuned
Next week we are going to be sharing a solution Insects Limited offers when dealing with red-legged ham beetles.
Insects Limited, an Insect Pheromone Company
Insects Limited, Inc. researches, tests, develops, manufactures and distributes pheromones and trapping systems for insects in a global marketplace. The highly qualified staff also can assist with consultation, areas of expert witness, training presentations and grant writing.
Insects Limited, Inc. specializes in a unique niche of pest control that provides mainstream products and services to protect stored food, grain, museum collections, tobacco, timber and fiber worldwide. Please take some time to view these products and services in our web store.
