Tribolium of flour

The flour tribolium or tribolium confusum Duv, belongs to the family of tenebrionids. It is a pest that attacks floury and grain products. Call Animal Extermination Alert “Greater Montreal” for a personalized quote, a food pest exterminator will intervene within 24 hours and will treat the infestation and nuisance caused by tribolium in your food stock:

How do you recognize this grain insect?

Yellow and cylindrical, the larva moves in dry food. Development is optimal in temperatures between 30 and 32 degrees Celsius and relative humidity of 70-75%. In the presence of such conditions, larval development is completed in almost a month. Otherwise, it can last up to 6 months. The nymph is formed in the food source.

The adult is identified with its brown colour and dark streaks, it measures 4.5 to 5.7mm, but it can easily be confused with other species of the same genus:

Life cycle of this polyphage pest beetle

Reproductive condition

A temperature of less than 30oC is necessary for tribolium to proliferate. Females lay up to 400 eggs at random in the egg-laying area that will be infested.

An eight-mutation development

It takes eight mutations for the larvae to reach the pupaestage, which will eventually become the adult form. The life cycle of common tribolium in Quebec is about one month if all conditions are met. It can last up to six months if not.

Mores and presence in our environment

• Africa
• Asia
• Europe or
• North America,
• from the Atlantic to the Pacific coast,

this is everywhere.

Unlike most insects, tribolium feeds from the larval stage of:

• cereal seeds,
• Flour
• pet or bird food.

This explains why it is common in:

• Mills
• Provenderies,
• Warehouses,
• grain silos,
• Bakeries,
• food industry related to grain products.

Exterminators detect their presence at the foul smell, characteristic left by a fluid produces their glands. Infested areas and products then give off an unpleasant odour.

How to avoid infestations?

Detect it without seeing it

The foul smell from food is the first warning sign of tribolium infestation of flour. Infested products can no longer be used, so beware of the losses caused.

There is no noticeable noticeable damage to this type of insect yet. It is only present and swarms massively in the grain.

To avoid infestations, it is best to keep an eye on its flour stock and look after the grain. If there is already an infestation, the affected products must be quickly identified and disposed of to prevent them from spreading.
An airtight closure of intact stocks is imperative to avoid all risks. The intervention of a professional is de rigueur to get rid of it completely.

How will your exterminator intervene and get rid of the spins?

There are several methods:

Of course the Montreal exterminator does not intervene in the same way, nor with the same weapons in the individual as on the silos of professional grain farmers.

• The extreme hot that puts them to sleep
• The extreme cold that freezes them
• Residual insecticides applied to structures
• Insecticides such as diatom soil that dehydrates the insect or malathion that applied directly to the grain reaches the insect’s nervous system.
• And many more depending on the causes and context of the infestation.
• The individual will be instructed to dispose of the infested reserves (the source).

During his visit, the grain pest de-insectization specialist analyzes the presence of the insect in the flour, assesses the infestation and makes an estimate related to the situation.

Know-how, experience and efficiency, Animal Alert fights the tribolium pests that have invaded your grain stock.