You reach in the cabinet for a bag of flour and notice tiny holes in it. The flour looks grey and smells bad. You probably have a troop of flour beetles feasting inside. Red, sawtoothed, and confused flour beetles are different species in the same family. They can make a good living on just a few grains of flour, wheat, or other food. They can eat through plastic and paper bags, and some of them can chew through aluminum foil. Here's how you can keep them out of your pantry or cabinets.
You have to dump any food that may have been contaminated. If you can't see the beetles, look for discolored grain, tiny holes in storage bags, and larvae in the vicinity. Clear everything out and clean off your shelves thoroughly. If you have shelf paper, throw it away and clean where it was, and then replace it. Don't forget vacuuming the cracks behind your molding. Only a few grains of food can attract a population of flour beetles.
Flour Beetles are a family of different species of insects that have very similar behavior. They are a major pest in homes, stores, and food-processing facilities. Red flour beetles and confused flour beetles look very similar, but come from Australia and southern Africa, respectively. Confused flour beetles prefer cooler climates, while red flour beetles can tolerate warmth. Other species include sawtoothed and merchant flour beetles.
