Red Flour Beetle
Tribolium castaneum
This record describes Tribolium castaneum (species). Recorded family: Tenebrionidae. Recorded order: Coleoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Identification notes
see
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Coleoptera (Beetles)
- Suborder
- Polyphaga
- Superfamily
- Tenebrionoidea
- Family
- Tenebrionidae (Darkling Beetles)
- Subfamily
- Tenebrioninae
- Tribe
- Triboliini
- Genus
- Tribolium (Flour Beetles)
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
in Canada, heavily infest granaries, flour/feed mills throughout the Prairie Provinces; found most frequently in imported produce on cargo ships ; particularly abundant in warm and often dry conditions
Geographic Range
of Oriental origin , now cosmopolitan but more common in warmer regions
Diet and Behavior
Diet: secondary pest of a wide range of cereals, cereal products, legumes, oilseeds, nuts, spices and animal products; an extremely successful omnivore ; attack sound grain, particularly @ high moisture, but prefer damaged grain
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Tribolium castaneum (Herbst 1797)
About Primitive Winged Insects: the wider group
Order-level background for Coleoptera, the group containing Tribolium castaneum. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Coleoptera is the largest order of insects with over 400,000 described species, representing ~25% of all known animal species and ~40% of all insects. In the U.S. alone, nearly 30,000 beetle species have been identified.
Ecological role of the group
Beetles are prominent decomposers, especially in forests, breaking down dead wood and recycling nutrients. As predators, they reduce populations of pest insects. Many species are also important pollinators of flowering plants.
Economic and practical significance of the group
Beetles have major economic significance: leaf beetles (Chrysomelidae) and weevils (Curculionoidea) are among the most destructive agricultural pests globally, costing billions annually, while predatory species like ladybugs provide natural pest control.
Recorded sources for this group: Britannica, Smithsonian, NCSU Entomology. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Red Flour Beetle (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by v belov; Additional contributions by Mike Quinn
Frequently Asked Questions About Red Flour Beetle
How big is Red Flour Beetle?
2.3–4.4 mm
How do you identify Red Flour Beetle?
see
Where is Red Flour Beetle found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | in Canada, heavily infest granaries, flour/feed mills throughout the Prairie Provinces; found most frequently in imported produce on cargo ships ; particularly abundant in warm and often dry conditions |
| Range | of Oriental origin , now cosmopolitan but more common in warmer regions |
What does Red Flour Beetle eat?
The diet of the Red Flour Beetle includes secondary pest of a wide range of cereals, cereal products, legumes, oilseeds, nuts, spices and animal products; an extremely successful omnivore ; attack sound grain, particularly @ high moisture, but prefer damaged grain.