Warehouse Beetle

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Trogoderma variabile: /troɡoˈdɛrma vaˈriːabɪle/

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Summary

Trogoderma variabile, commonly known as the warehouse beetle, is a species of carpet beetle in the family Dermestidae. It is an economic pest in a range of dry goods and has a wide distribution across continents.

Physical Characteristics

Adult warehouse beetles average about 3.2 mm (0.13 in) in length and are some shade of reddish-brown, dark brown or blackish-brown. The larvae are cream coloured or some darker shade of brown, averaging 6 mm (0.24 in) in length when fully grown and have long bristles at the tip of the abdomen.

Identification Tips

Sexual dimorphism: antennal club 6- or 7-segmented in males, 4-segmented in females.

Habitat

Occurs in warehouses, granaries, food stores, and dwellings indoors; outdoors, in bee nests (especially in Russia).

Distribution

Originally probably indigenous to Central Asia but now found widely across Europe, Asia, Central America, North America, and Oceania. Transcontinental in North America and adventive in Europe.

Diet

Prefers animal feed, whole kernels of barley and wheat, noodles, oatmeal, wheat germ, whole wheat flour; may also infest dead animals, candy, cocoa, corn/fish meal, flour, nut meats, and dried spices.

Life Cycle

Eggs are laid in suitable dry materials and hatch in about a week at temperatures between 20 °C and 38 °C (68 °F and 100 °F). There are normally six instars; some mature larvae can enter a diapause for up to two years. Pupation occurs about seven weeks after the eggs are laid, lasting about four days, with new adults resting for two to seven days before emerging.

Ecosystem Role

Minor pest in Canada; may be a major pest of stored products in other parts of the world, especially for seeds, cereals, legumes, nuts, and other high-protein foods.

Economic Impact

Considered a minor pest in Canada, but a major or serious pest in other areas.

Tags

• beetle
• pest
• insect
• storage pest
• carpet beetle