Trogoderma inclusum

LeConte, 1854

larger cabinet beetle

Trogoderma inclusum, commonly known as the larger cabinet , is a stored product pest in the Dermestidae. It has a broad global distribution spanning Africa, Europe, Northern Asia, North America, Oceania, and Southern Asia. Research indicates it is more to long-term mating delays than its Trogoderma variabile, maintaining higher production and progeny as females age. The is a target for strategies including and -incorporated netting.

Trogoderma inclusum by (c) Simon Hinkley & Ken Walker, Museum Victoria, some rights reserved (CC BY). Used under a CC-BY license.Trogoderma inclusum by (c) NHM Beetles and Bugs, some rights reserved (CC BY). Used under a CC-BY license.Trogoderma inclusum by (c) NHM Beetles and Bugs, some rights reserved (CC BY). Used under a CC-BY license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Trogoderma inclusum: /troʊɡoʊˈdɜːrmə ɪnˈkluːsəm/

These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.

Identification

Distinguished from the closely related warehouse (Trogoderma variabile) by subtle morphological differences; both are small, oval dermestid beetles with patterned . Accurate identification typically requires examination by a or molecular methods, as visual separation from T. variabile and other Trogoderma species is challenging.

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Habitat

Stored product environments including warehouses, grain storage facilities, and structures infesting stored food materials. Laboratory studies indicate successful rearing on ground dog food, oatmeal, and organic unbleached flour with brewer's yeast supplementation.

Distribution

Africa; Europe and Northern Asia (excluding China); North America; Oceania; Southern Asia. In North America, documented from north-central Kansas and has widespread occurrence across temperate regions.

Diet

Ground dog food and oatmeal; organic unbleached, unenriched, all-purpose flour with 5% brewer's yeast. As a stored product pest, it infests durable commodities in the postharvest supply chain.

Life Cycle

Complete with , larval, pupal, and stages. Females can mate at various ages from 1 to 29 days under experimental conditions. Life span increases with delayed mating age but decreases sharply immediately following mating.

Behavior

Larvae exhibit -mediated movement oriented toward food and . Movement is reduced by 50% after 24-hour exposure to deltamethrin-incorporated long-lasting netting. and larvae are highly mobile within stored product environments.

Ecological Role

Pest of stored food and durable commodities in the postharvest supply chain. Less damaging than some congeneric but can co-occur with Trogoderma variabile in . Subject to management through behaviorally-based tactics.

Human Relevance

Significant pest of stored grain and food products requiring costly control measures. Target for and -incorporated netting as components of . Interceptions at ports and border crossings necessitate vigilance.

Similar Taxa

  • Trogoderma variabileClosely related with overlapping and distribution; T. inclusum produces greater numbers and progeny as female mating age increases, while T. variabile has superior early-life reproductive capabilities.
  • Trogoderma granariumCongeneric , a more destructive pest; T. inclusum is less damaging and not subject to the same regulatory restrictions.

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Sources and further reading