Confused Flour Beetle

Confused flour beetles get their name, not from being confused themselves, but from often being mistaken for red flour beetles.  They are similar in appearance, being small and reddish, like their red flour relatives.  Confused flour beetles only grow to be about 1/8 of an inch long, have flat oval bodies with six legs and 2 antennae.  They have hard wing covers but do not fly. They also do not bite or sting.  They do, however, contaminate food stores such as flour, cereals, grains, pet food and nuts. 

Confused flour beetles live about a year, with females laying around 450 eggs in that time. The eggs will hatch and change into adults within about 6 weeks. They are capable of large infestations, and able to squeeze into cracks and gaps in seals food containers or bags.  They can also move fast when disturbed.  Keeping food sealed and checked regularly, and keeping pantries clean and rotated often will help prevent an infestation of confused flour beetles.