Broadhorned Flour Beetle

How to tell if you have Broadhorned flour beetles 

Even though these stored product pests prefer to feed on flour products, they will attack a broad range of food items. Inspection is a must.

• Look in nearby food products such as pet food, birdseed, cake mixes, biscuit mixes, muffin mixes, spices, powdered milk, nutmeats, cornmeal, crackers, insect and rodent baits.
• Use a magnifying glass and flashlight to help with inspection.
• Sighting of small tubular beetles near stored products or in the product can indicate activity.
• 3.5-4.9mm long; male with conspicuously enlarged, toothed jaw, broader at the base than near apex. As they eat, the beetles cause the flour to become discolored and develop a disagreeable odor.

Upon identifying an infestation,  DO NOT tidy up any evidence just Contact Us and we will help/advise with the next step in preparing an eradication program.

The program will consist of:-

• We would start with a thorough inspection of all known and suspected spots where they might be hiding.
• Customer to try get a sample for us to identify.
• We only carry out a treatment when a confirmed infestation is present as this is the correct thing to do for many reasons, but the main one is cost savings. There is no point in paying to try and kill something that is not even present.
• Identifying the insect species causing the problem.
• We will ask you to start by removing all infested products, cleaning and vacuuming all areas to pick up any loose debris/insects
• Education explaining the life cycle and how their habits, habitat and behavior affects the control plan.
• Treating affected areas by using safe an effective control products.
• Scheduling a follow-up visit if required.

Prevention

Flour beetles can crawl into packages that appear to be sealed. Infestations can easily spread from one product on a shelf to several different products. People can transport infested products from place to place.

Every infested package should be thrown away. Vacuum all areas as this will remove food particles. Store new food products in sealed containers to prevent new infestations.