Mushroom darkling beetle

Adults of the mushroom darkling beetle, Alphitobius laevigatus (F.), are dark reddish-brown to black and measure 5.5–7.0 mm in body length. A key diagnostic in lateral view is the shape of the compound eyes: at their narrowest point, each eye narrows to a single ommatidium (one facet), which distinguishes this species from the lesser mealworm, Alphitobius diaperinus. Larvae are yellowish-brown, cylindrical grubs.

A secondary, mycetophagous stored‑product pest, it does not attack sound kernels. Larvae and adults exploit damp fines, moldy pockets, and residues, feeding on fungal growth and detritus. The impacts are indirect: contamination of lots with frass, cast exuviae, and carcasses; musty taints; and dispersal of fungal spores that accelerate mold development and moisture hot spots, increasing risks of caking and mycotoxin issues. Its presence reliably signals sanitation lapses, leaks, or ventilation/temperature faults. Infestations can downgrade grain by elevating foreign‑matter and microbial loads, trigger quality rejections, and necessitate extra cleaning and disinfestation. In heavy infestations, scavenging on broken kernels and abrasion of packaging may occur, further facilitating secondary spoilage.

Infestation signs for the Mushroom darkling beetle, Alphitobius laevigatus (F.), in stored grain are subtle and non-specific. Look for: - Live or dead adults (4-6 mm, smooth, shiny dark brown-black) and elongate larvae (honey-brown, with terminal urogomphi) in sievings, probe/pitfall trap catches, and around grain residues. - Fine powdery frass, insect fragments, and translucent larval exuviae concentrated in “hot spots,” especially where dockage, moisture, or mold accumulates. - Superficial grazing on cracked or broken kernels rather than deep boring; increased fines in localized pockets. - Musty or slightly phenolic (tenebrionid) odor; localized heating, caking, and damp clumps associated with fungal growth. - Nocturnal surface activity—adults scuttle when disturbed; larvae conceal within fines and along bin floors and wall–grain interfaces. These cues warrant targeted sampling and, if confirmed, sanitation plus cooling/drying to disrupt the life cycle.

Alphitobius laevigatus (F.), the mushroom darkling beetle, exhibits holometabolous development: egg–larva–pupa–adult. Females oviposit in clusters within food-rich pockets and crevices of stored commodities. Eggs hatch into active, scavenging larvae that traverse grain and fines, feeding and contaminating product with frass and exuviae across successive instars. Mature larvae pupate in protected microhabitats within the substrate. Newly emerged adults (teneral at first) harden and disperse efficiently; adults fly well and are long-lived, with life spans up to about 400 days. Under favorable storage conditions, generations overlap, sustaining chronic infestations.

Mycetophilous and detritivorous, Alphitobius laevigatus favors humid, poorly ventilated microhabitats with mold-colonized substrates and abundant decomposing organic matter; it is often found around dung and carrion in animal shelters.

Lesser mealworm (Alphitobius diaperinus).