Darkling Beetles

Adult              Larvae

Pest Description

• Dark brown
• Hard exoskeleton
• 6 jointed legs
• 2 antennae
• Compound eyes
• 3-section body
• ~ 6 mm long

Life Cycle

• Darkling beetle is adult stage of the lesser mealworm
• Female lays hundreds of white eggs that hatch in 4 to 19 days
• Larval stage (lesser mealworm) lasts 2 to 3 weeks
• Adult darkling beetles can live up to one year or more

Food Source

• Poultry feed and litter

Threat

• Can carry disease organisms and parasites
• Can cause damage to poultry facility insulation
• Can cause poultry weight loss
• Consume poultry feed

Control Method

• Credo^™ SC Insecticide
• Tempo^® 1% Dust Insecticide
• Tempo^® 20 WP Insecticide
• Tempo^® SC Ultra Premise Spray

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