Fermented-product-pest
Guides
Latheticus
Latheticus is a genus of darkling beetles (Tenebrionidae) with nearly cosmopolitan distribution. The genus contains at least two species: Latheticus oryzae (long-headed flour beetle) and Latheticus prosopis. L. oryzae is a significant economic pest of stored grains and fermented products, notable for its slender body, protruding head morphology, and remarkable adaptability to high-temperature environments.
Latheticus oryzae
Long-Headed Flour Beetle
Latheticus oryzae is a small stored-product pest beetle in the family Tenebrionidae, commonly known as the long-headed flour beetle. It infests milled grain products, cereals, flour, and rice, with both adults and larvae feeding directly on these substrates. The species is notable for its elongated head morphology and resemblance to Tribolium castaneum. It has been documented in high-temperature environments including Chinese baijiu-producing regions, where it infests fermented Daqu starter cultures.