Research with dermestid larvae: pitfalls and cautions

Abstract: Insects in the family Dermestidae are often overlooked as pests of stored products. However, in the United States (US) and other parts of the world, they are receiving increased importance as emerging pests in flour mills and rice mills, processing plants, and food warehouses. Although adults are short-lived and susceptible to insecticides used to control other stored product beetles, larvae are much more difficult to kill compared to flour beetles and stored grain pests, and there are differences in susceptibility between larval age stages and between individual species. Also, larvae can enter diapause and bias results of insecticide studies.Recent research with several members of the genus Trogoderma will be discussed in relation to susceptibility to contact residual treatments, aerosols, packaging treatments, and studies with cold temperatures as a potential means of disinfestation.