Warehouse Beetle Facts & Information

These beetles are about ⅛ of an inch long with oval-shaped bodies that are black or brown in color though some warehouse beetles may appear mottled. They will have three lines across their bodies that are either gray, gold, or reddish-brown. Their outer wings, the elytra, are hair-covered and generally dark in color, with bands that vary from brown to red. Larvae are yellowish-white but grow darker as they mature. The larvae of the warehouse beetle can grow up to a 1/4 inch in length and are distinguishable by the tufts of hairs that line the body.

The most common sign of a warehouse beetle infestation is the presence of the molted skins that the larvae cast off as they pass through the various larval instars and before pupating. A sighting of several adult warehouse beetles is indicative of an infestation, though the extent of the problem may vary. Finding larvae in stored food proves the presence of the invading insects, as well. No matter what they look like, though, you’re going to want a beetle exterminator to help with them.

Females lay around 90 eggs in a lifetime, and the resulting offspring go through a life cycle that takes anywhere from two to four months to complete. In cases of food shortages or poor environmental conditions, warehouse beetle larvae can slow their development by molting numerous times before deciding to pupate. This extends the larval stage of the life cycle and helps ensure the survival of developing warehouse beetles, and thus the success of the species. In fact, warehouse beetle larvae have been known to remain in suspended development for over a year in unfavorable conditions. Pupation occurs directly on a food source to allow the emerging adults to mate immediately. Adults live anywhere from a few days to a few months, depending on the temperature of the environment.

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