Flour Beetles

Small reddish-brown beetles about 3-4mm long that feed on flour and cereal debris in warm buildings. May be accidentally introduced into the larder in packaging or in the ingredients themselves.

Commonest species are the Rust Red Flour Beetle and the Confused Flour Beetles (which in turn is often confused with the Rust Red Flour Beetle).

May produce five generations in a year and adults can live for over a year. The eggs stick to flour particles and the yellow-brown larvae, about 6mm long, crawl about very actively.