Origin:
Possibly unknown, as it is worldwide in its occurrence now, and is found widely throughout the United States. A close relative, the Khapra Beetle, originated in India.
Biology:
The warehouse beetle is considered to be one of the most destructive stored food pests in North America, and while it may infest the same kinds of animal byproducts as the carpet beetles do, it is the damage to food products that is most important. It infests the range of products such as grains, meals, cereals, pet food, pastas, dried vegetables, nuts, and spices. Another concern is with human health, as there are documented incidents of severe intestinal pain caused by the ingestion of the hairs from the larvae of other Trogoderma species, and it may occur with the warehouse beetle as well.
Identification:
The many species of Trogoderma beetles cannot be separated by any superficial characters, and require dissection by an expert. In general, though, their appearance is of a mottled brown and black coloration, a compact, oval, flattened shape with no separation between the prothorax and elytra, and a length of around 2 to 3 mm. The larvae grow to around 4.5 mm in length and have the typically hairy body of the dermestid beetles. They are elongate and oval, and have distinct dark bands around each body segment from the front to the back. They are fast walkers and extremely active.
Characteristicts Important to Control:
As with the common carpet beetles the importance of finding the source of the infestation is high, as it usually is in a hidden location and not likely to be contacted by sprayed pesticides. Susceptible foods, clothing, decorations and furnishings must be inspected for the presence or evidence of the larvae, and the storage of these materials in a manner that excludes the pest is very successful in preventing damage.
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