description Red Flour Beetle Overview
Tribolium castaneum, the red flour beetle, is a small beetle in the darkling beetle family Tenebrionidae and a widespread pest of stored grain and processed cereal products. It is a secondary pest because it commonly develops in milled material such as flour, grain dust, and other food products rather than boring into sound kernels. The species is also widely used as a laboratory model for genetics, development, behavior, and insecticide resistance, supported by established genomic and RNA interference research tools. [Annual Reviews](https://www.annualreviews.org/content/journals/10.1146/annurev-ento-080921-075157)
help Red Flour Beetle FAQ
What does the red flour beetle infest?
Tribolium castaneum commonly infests stored grain and processed cereal products. It develops especially well in flour, grain dust, and other milled materials.
Why is the red flour beetle called a secondary pest?
It is called a secondary pest because it usually develops in material that has already been milled or damaged. Flour and grain dust provide better food for it than intact, undamaged grain.
What family does the red flour beetle belong to?
The red flour beetle belongs to the darkling beetle family, Tenebrionidae. Its scientific name is Tribolium castaneum.
Is the red flour beetle a small stored-food beetle?
Yes. It is a small beetle associated with flour, grain dust, and processed cereal products in storage.
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