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flour beetles (同)genus Tribolium

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出典(authority):フリー百科事典『ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』「2013/05/21 16:02:25」(JST)

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The confused flour beetle (Tribolium confusum), a type of darkling beetle known as a flour beetle, is a common pest insect known for attacking and infesting stored flour and grain. They are one of the most common and most destructive insect pests for grain and other food products stored in silos, warehouses, grocery stores, and homes.^[1]

Appearance [edit]

The confused flour beetle is very similar in appearance and habit to the red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum and the destructive flour beetle, Tribolium destructor. Both the confused flour beetle and red flour beetle are small, about 1/8 to 1/4 inch in length, and reddish-brown in color. The primary distinguishing physical difference is the shape of their antennae: the confused flour beetle's antennae increase gradually in size and have four clubs, while the red flour beetle's antennae have only three. Additionally, red flour beetles have been known to fly short distances, while confused flour beetles do not. Tribolium destructor is much darker than either and less common.

The "confused" in the beetle's name is due to being confused with the red flour beetle, and not because of its walking pattern. ^[2]

Habits [edit]

While confused (and red) flour beetles cannot feed on whole, undamaged grain, they are often found in large numbers in infested grains, feeding on broken grain, grain dust, and other household food items such as flour, rice, dried fruit, nuts, and beans. Both types of beetles are often found not only in infested grains, but in crevices in pantries and cabinet, as well. Damage to food is caused somewhat by the beetles' feeding, but also by their dead bodies, fecal pellets, and foul-smelling secretions. In addition to creating a foul odor, the beetles' presence encourages the growth of mold.^[3]

In science and popular culture [edit]

Confused flour beetles are a common model organism in science. Several confused flour beetles were experimental subjects on the Bion 1 spacecraft, launched in 1973.

In an episode of Mythbusters, the flour beetle, as well as cockroaches and fruit flies, were tested to determine their resistance to radiation in the event of a nuclear holocaust. In the end, the flour beetle was the only species tested to live 30 days past exposure to 100,000 rads (100 times the lethal dose to human beings, according to promotions of the episode).

Footnotes [edit]

^ Lyon.
^ http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/urban/beetles/red_flour_beetle.htm
^ Baldwin and Fasulo. 2010.

References [edit]

Baldwin R, Fasulo TR. (2010). Confused flour beetle, Tribolium confusum Jacquelin du Val, and red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum (Herbst). Featured Creatures. (15 April 2010).
Lyon WF. Confused and ref flour beetles. Ohio State Fact Sheets. (15 April 2010).
Walter VE. 1990. 'Stored product pests'. Handbook of Pest Control (Story K, Moreland D. (eds.)). Franzak & Foster Co., Cleveland, OH. pp. 526-529.

External links [edit]

Close-up photo on pbase.com
Tribolium species are hard to identify. Here are four species side by side. Note that several species of Tribolium may occur in the same infestation.Colpolon

English Journal

A functional genetic analysis in flour beetles (Tenebrionidae) reveals an antennal identity specification mechanism active during metamorphosis in Holometabola.

Smith FW1, Angelini DR2, Jockusch EL3.
Mechanisms of development.Mech Dev.2014 May;132:13-27. doi: 10.1016/j.mod.2014.02.002. Epub 2014 Feb 15.
The antenna was the first arthropod ventral appendage to evolve non-leg identity. Models of antennal evolution have been based on comparisons of antennal and leg identity specification mechanisms in Drosophila melanogaster, a species in which appendages develop from highly derived imaginal discs dur
PMID 24534744

Molecular identification of Tribolium castaneum and T. confusum (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) using PCR-RFLP analysis.

Ming Q1, Wang A, Cheng C.
Journal of genetics.J Genet.2014 Apr 22;93(1):e17-21.
PMID 24823304

Evaluation of synergized pyrethrin aerosol for control of Tribolium castaneum and Tribolium confusum (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae).

Kharel K, Arthur FH, Zhu KY, Campbell JF, Subramanyam B.
Journal of economic entomology.J Econ Entomol.2014 Feb;107(1):462-8.
Aerosol insecticides are being used in flour mill pest management programs, but there is limited information on their efficacy on different insect life stages. In this study, we evaluated the efficacy of synergized pyrethrin applied as an aerosol against eggs, larvae, pupae, and adults of the red fl
PMID 24665733

Japanese Journal

プラスチックコンテナ内での捕食性カメムシ類によるヒラタコクヌス卜モドキの個体数抑制効果

都市有害生物管理 4(2), 59-63, 2014-12-20
NAID 110009878583

ヒラタコクヌストモドキの嗅覚応答に与える同種他個体の影響

都市有害生物管理 2(2), 81-89, 2012
NAID 40019547359

Beyond average : an experimental test of temperature variability on the population dynamics of Tribolium confusum

Population ecology 53(1), 53-58, 2011-01-01
NAID 10027622206

Related Pictures

★リンクテーブル★

リンク元	「ヒラタコクヌストモドキ」
関連記事	「Tribolium」

「ヒラタコクヌストモドキ」

Tribolium confusum
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Coleoptera
Family:	Tenebrionidae
Genus:	Tribolium
Species:	Tribolium confusum
Binomial name
	Tribolium confusum; Jacquelin du Val, 1863