Warehouse Beetle vs Red-Shouldered Ham Beetle

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Warehouse Beetle Red-Shouldered Ham Beetle
Scientific Name Trogoderma variabile Carcinops pumilio
Order Coleoptera Coleoptera
Family Dermestidae Histeridae
Size 2-3.5 mm 2-3 mm
Habitat Indoors Farmland
Diet Seed Feeders Predators
Regions North America, Australia, Europe Worldwide (cosmopolitan)
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Warehouse Beetle

A stored product beetle closely related to the khapra beetle that infests grain, cereals, and dried foods. Its hairy larvae contaminate food products and can cause allergic reactions.

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Did You Know?

It is so similar to the quarantine-regulated khapra beetle that expert identification is needed to tell them apart.

Red-Shouldered Ham Beetle

A tiny, shiny black hister beetle commonly found in poultry houses where it preys on house fly larvae. It is an important biological control agent in livestock facilities.

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Did You Know?

A single beetle can consume up to 24 house fly eggs per day, making it one of the best natural fly controls in hen houses.