Lesser Mealworm—Alphitobius diaperinis
aka Darkling Beetle, Litter Beetle

Lesser mealworms feed in grains and flour, particularly in damp musty sites. Found in grain bins, mills, and poultry houses, where they destroy insulation through extensive tunneling. They sometimes become pests in stored foods inside homes. They transmit poultry diseases.

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Identification and Control Information

• Pest Management: Lesser Mealworms—University of Maine Cooperative Extension
• Fact Sheet: Lesser Mealworm, Litter Beetle (PDF)—University of Florida Extension

[Photos, left to right: Charles Olsen, USDA APHIS PPQ, Bugwood.org; Pest and Diseases Image Library, Bugwood.org; Pest and Diseases Image Library, Bugwood.org]