Longheaded Flour Beetle (Lathelicus oryzae)

The Tiny Invader That’s More Dangerous Than You Think!

Hidden in flour storage or grain warehouses, there’s a tiny invader many people have never seen — yet it can cause massive problems behind the scenes. Meet the Longheaded Flour Beetle (Lathelicus oryzae), a stealthy pest that quietly destroys flour, grain products, and dry foods without you even knowing.

Get to Know the Longheaded Flour Beetle

• Scientific name: Lathelicus oryzae
• Family: Tenebrionidae
• Order: Coleoptera

This beetle is only 2.5–3.0 mm long, with a slender, shiny, light brown body. Its most striking feature? Its head is almost as long as its thorax, with short antennae. Its forewings are smooth with shallow grooves running lengthwise and completely cover its abdomen.

A Surprisingly Resilient Life Cycle

• Egg stage: Females lay up to 300 eggs, often stuck to flour or grains.
• Larva stage: Goes through 6–7 molts.
• Pupa stage: Lasts around 5–10 days.
• Adult stage: Lives up to 6 months, with a total life cycle of about 112 days.

Favorite Food Sources

• Pasta
• Dried potatoes
• Oats
• Tea leaves
• Sorghum
• Corn
• Other cereal grains

Damage and Destructive Behavior

The Longheaded Flour Beetle doesn’t just infest flour mills or grain warehouses — it also lurks in decaying wood or under bark. Both larvae and adults are incredibly hardy, able to survive harsh conditions and withstand long periods without food.

During the day, they hide under grain piles, emerging at night to feed and lay eggs. Infestations can severely impact product quality, causing clumping, musty odors, and rendering products unfit for consumption.

Global Spread

These beetles thrive in tropical and humid regions but cannot survive in cold climates, making places like Thailand and Southeast Asia particularly high-risk zones.

✅ Prevention and Control Strategies

Regular Cleaning

Clean storage areas thoroughly to remove food residues and hiding spots.

Temperature and Humidity Control

Apply heat or extreme cold to disrupt their development.

Fumigation

Effectively eliminates eggs, larvae, and adults.

Avoid Long Storage Periods

Reduce the chance of reproduction and large-scale infestations.

Install Pheromone Traps

Monitor and catch adults before they reproduce.

Conclusion

Although small and seemingly harmless, the Longheaded Flour Beetle is a silent destroyer capable of causing severe damage to your products and brand reputation. Without proactive prevention, you could face massive financial losses and quality issues.

Be proactive: Know it, prevent it, and eliminate it before it destroys your entire warehouse!