subject: Small Red Bugs in Dog Food [print this page] Small Red Bugs in Dog Food Small Red Bugs in Dog Food
If you havesmall redbugs in your dog food, you're probably dealing with a flour beetle infestation. There are two types of flour beetles, the confused and red.
One of thebiggestdifferences between the two beetles is that the red flour beetle flies and is primarily found in southern states, while the confused flour beetledoesn't fly and is more so found in the northern parts of the country. With the complicated distribution of food products, however, it's easily understood how one species could be seen in areas they were not commonly found just decades ago.
As adults, both beetles havereddish brown bodies that are about 1/8 inch long. They have a wide food range including flour, rice, cereals, grains, spices, grain products, shelled nuts, dried fruit, chocolate, beans and other similar materials.
Average life span of bothbeetles is between 1 and 3.5 years. They have four life cycle stages, which include the egg, larvae, pupae and adult. It's important to note that all four stages of the life cycle may be found in infested grain products at the same time.
The female beetles ofboth specieslay theireggs loosely on the fine materials and broken kernels where they reside. The eggs are covered with a sticky secretion which fine food material adheres to.
As confused flour and red flour beetles transform into a small pupa, they gradually change from white, to yellow, and then brown. Shortly after turning brown in color, they transform into an adult beetle.
Control Measures
As you would probably guess, control of these beetles is pretty much the same, regardless of which species you're dealing with.Step onein controlling the infestation is to eliminate the food source. Either throw away the infested product, or put it in the freezer for 4-7 days.
If the food product is heavily infested, you could have issues with other products near the original source. Check all partially used boxes or bags of product that have been forgotten or used sparingly.
Once you've found and disposed the source(s) of the problem, you should deal with any spillage. The preferred method of cleaning is a two step-process- using a vacuum, then diluted bleach or soap and water.
Proper storage and good sanitation are the best ways to prevent future infestations. Food products that have been opened should be placed in plastic containers or jars with lids that seal tightly.
