248 



HOUSEHOLD INSECTS 



THE CONFUSED FLOUR-BEETLE 



Tribolium confusum 



Flour, meal, and prepared cereals of all kinds, are often 

 infested with tiny reddish-brown beetles about one-eighth 

 of an inch in length. In most cases one may be quite 

 sure these are the confused flour beetles although in addi- 

 tion to their being confused with the rust-red flour-beetle 

 one is liable to mistake the saw-toothed 

 grain-beetles for them unless closely 

 examined. The confused flour-beetle 

 (Fig. 77) has a flattened, oval body 

 with the head and thorax, on the top 

 sides, densely covered with minute 

 round punctures. The saw-toothed 

 grain-beetle has a long, slender body, 

 and the edges of the thorax are beset 

 with tooth-like projections which dis- 

 tinguish it at once, when closely ex- 

 amined, from this flour-beetle. 



The confused flour-beetle occurs all 

 over the United States, although it is 

 an introduced species. Chittenden 

 says that within two years from the time it was recognized 

 in this country as a distinct species it was reported as 

 injurious from almost every state and territory in the 

 Union. We have received many complaints regarding 

 this pest in various cereals. It was reported not long ago 

 in oatmeal flour and has been breeding all winter in this 

 material in our insectary. At this writing the flour is 

 one mass of the tiny larvse and adult beetles. They have 



Fig. 77. — The con- 

 fused flour-beetle. 

 (X 12.) 



