Insect of the Month: Warehouse Beetle (Trogoderma Variable)
This insect occurs in all life stages in warm buildings, throughout the year with two or three generations occurring each year. Females mate within one day of emerging from the pupa. Five to sixty eggs are deposited near a food site. Larvae will molt 5 or 6 times before pupating.
Both adults and larvae can feed on a wide variety of stored foods including cereals, candy, flour, fishmeal, noodles, dried spices, nuts, dead animal carcasses (drier stages), and pet foods. The larval stage prefers to hide in dark areas where food is stored, including processed and packaged foods, or in cracks and crevices where waste food has accumulated. The use of pheromone traps and inspections can determine the location and degree of infestation
What do warehouse beetles look like?
Adults: Beetles are 2-3 mm (0.125 inches) long and brownish black in appearance. Their elytra (wing covers) are covered with fine hairs which can produce a mottled pattern in coloration.
Eggs: Oval, ivory in color and 0.5 mm (0.02 inches) long.
Larvae: 6-7 mm (0.25 inches) long and have a yellow white to dark brown colored body which is covered with tufts of setae (hairs) on each body segment. There are paired patches of concentrated setae on the last four abdominal segments and usually a tuft of longer hairs at the tip.
Pupae: Pupal cases are oval and hairy. Inside the pupal skin a whitish larva to blackish beetle may be visible.
What is the warehouse beetle life cycle?
The life cycle is completed in approximately 35 days. With poor food conditions, lower temps, or regular disturbance, the larval lifespan can be extended, and pupal stages may undergo diapause. Under these conditions, development can be extended by many months to over a year. Larvae rarely move from the site of egg laying if sufficient food is available.
Monitoring Guidelines for Warehouse Beetle (Trogoderma Variable)
Click on the image or insect name above to view monitoring guidelines for warehouse 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 warehouse 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.
