Red Flour Beetle in Sorghum

The adult is about 3-4 mm long, rather flat, oblong, and chestnut brown.

       

It lays up to 450 eggs in the stored produce. The egg is minute, cylindrical, and white. Depending on weather conditions there may be 4-7 generations a year and 1 generation may take 1-4 months. The yellowish-white cylindrical grub is covered with fine hairs and becomes fully grown in 27-29 days.The optimum conditions for the development of this pest are 35°C and 70% relative humidity.

Damage

Adult beetles can be readily observed by the tunnels constructed when they move through flour or other granular food products. When attack is severe, the sorghum grains turn grayish yellow and become moldy, with a pungent smell.

Management

Storing products in sealed containers provides effective control. Fumigants are also effective.