Flour Beetles in the Pantry: What Wichita and Kansas City Homes Should Know

Tiny reddish-brown bugs in the flour bag? Do not panic. This is a common pantry problem, and you can handle the first steps today.

Quick Answers

• Red and confused flour beetles are about 1/7 inch long. Red ones are rust-red.

• They get into flour, cereal, spices, dried fruit, nuts, beans and chocolate.

• Infested food can smell sharp and look pinkish.

• Larvae hide inside the food, so you often see the adults first.

• In warm, humid spots they can go from egg to adult in about 26 days.

What do flour beetles look like?

Adults are small and reddish-brown. Red and confused flour beetles look a lot alike. Larvae are pale, honey-colored and about 1/4 inch long. Eggs are white and sticky, so flour clings to them. Adults have wings, but they are weak flyers.

How do they get in?

They often ride home in a package from the store. They can also move in from another pantry item. They do not need a dirty kitchen to show up. One old bag of flour in the back can feed a lot of beetles.

Why does it spread so fast?

A female can lay 400 to 500 eggs, mostly in the first week. Adults can live for more than 3 years. So one bag can turn into many.

What can you do today?

1. Check flour, cereal, baking mixes, spices, dried fruit, nuts and pet food.

2. Seal anything with bugs in a bag and take it to the outside trash.

3. Vacuum shelves, corners and cracks. Empty the vacuum outside.

4. Wipe the shelves with soap and water and let them dry.

5. Move new food into containers with tight lids.

6. Check the shelves again in two weeks.

When should you call a pro?

Call if the bugs keep showing up after you throw out the food and clean the shelves. That can mean there is an old stash somewhere, like a forgotten box or a bag in a back cabinet. A pro can help you find the source.

Learn more: what to know about pantry moths, and our pest guide for Wichita and Kansas City.

Wichita: (316) 775-7867. Overland Park and Kansas City: (913) 222-2847.

Quick FAQ

Are flour beetles harmful? They are a pantry pest. They spoil food, so toss anything that is infested.

How can I tell red and confused flour beetles apart? Red flour beetles are rust-red with a three-part antenna club. Confused flour beetles have a four-part club that grows gradually.

Can flour beetles fly? They have wings, but they are weak flyers.

Sources

• Purdue Extension, Stored Product Pests (E-224)

• University of Missouri Extension, Household Pests (G7372)

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