Black Flour Beetle
Tribolium madens
This record describes Tribolium madens (species). Recorded family: Tenebrionidae. Recorded order: Coleoptera.
Identification and Appearance
robust, shiny black to blackish brown images: 1 | 2 earliest record in our area: before 1897?
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
associated with flour, cornmeal, grains, and seeds
Geographic Range
native to w. Palaearctic (Europe, North Africa), adventive in NA (e. Canada, w. US)
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Tribolium madens (Charpentier 1825)
About Primitive Winged Insects: the wider group
Order-level background for Coleoptera, the group containing Tribolium madens. 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 Black Flour Beetle (3)
Photo credits: Contributed by v belov
Frequently Asked Questions About Black Flour Beetle
What is Black Flour Beetle?
Black Flour Beetle (Tribolium madens) is a species in the family Tenebrionidae, within the order Coleoptera.
How big is Black Flour Beetle?
~5 mm
How do you identify Black Flour Beetle?
robust, shiny black to blackish brown images: 1 | 2
Where is Black Flour Beetle found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | associated with flour, cornmeal, grains, and seeds |
| Range | native to w. Palaearctic (Europe, North Africa), adventive in NA (e. Canada, w. US) |