A person sifting the flour.
Flour beetles, also known as flour weevils, are beetles that commonly lay their eggs in flour, rice, and other milled grains. They are tiny insects, averaging just 0.125 inches (3.17 mm) long. These insects are thick-bodied and reddish-brown in color, and are one of the most common pests to plague home cabinets.
Female flour beetles typically lay more than 500 eggs during their life cycle, which typically lasts about a year. The eggs hatch into larvae that resemble tiny whitish gray worms. The larvae take a few months to develop into adult beetles.
Flour.
Although many types of beetles are known to infest grain products, two species in particular are most commonly found in home cupboards. These are the flour beetle and the red flour beetle. These two types of flour beetles are nearly identical, except for the shape of their antennae. The flour beetle has antennae that curve inward towards each other, while the antennae of the flour beetle have very little curvature.
Often called flour weevils, flour beetles lay eggs in flour, rice, and other grains.
Many people believe that flour beetle infestation is caused by unsanitary conditions; However, this is not always the case. In many cases, products purchased from grocery stores are already contaminated with weevils before they are even opened. Grain contamination can occur at any stage of the milling process, and even if flour beetles are found during processing, it is often nearly impossible to get rid of the eggs. This is because the eggs are so small that they cannot be easily distinguished from the grains.
There are some obvious ways to help ensure that beans purchased at the supermarket do not contain flour beetles. Buyers should avoid buying products with broken or damaged packaging. If the flaps attached to the edges of the boxes appear to be loose, these packages should also be avoided. It may also be a good idea to check the expiration date on the packaging. The longer a package sits on the shelves, the more likely it is to become infested with pests.
Once milled produce is purchased, home storage can play an important role in keeping grains safe from beetle infestations. Flours or grains that come in paper bags should be placed in containers that can be hermetically sealed. This includes glass or tin containers as long as they have openings that can be sealed against pests. Many people prefer to use plastic vacuum-type seals as they also help preserve the freshness of food by protecting it from infestation.