What kind of critters are these are in the flour?

Question

http://brent.veroquest.com/bmiller/360/critters_cropped1.gif

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http://brent.veroquest.com/bmiller/360/critters_full50.gif (big file)

http://brent.veroquest.com/bmiller/360/critters_full53.gif (big file)

Found in August; Sunnyvale, CA USA

Answer 1

Flour beetles, Tribolium species.

Answer 2

uh oh my friend those are what we call in ohio fruit flies! they will eat anything and once you get them, they are almost impossible to get rid of!

Answer 3

those look like termites to me, was there any wood around the flour? Also, not all termites feed on wood so they might go after your flour.

Answer 4

They be weavils...

Answer 5

i believe they are called weevils, i keep them out of flour, by putting flour in an air tite container, and storing in the fridge.

Answer 6

weebles, weavils,  something like that

Answer 7

I've always called them weevils too, but apparently thats not their official name.

I was always told that they are already in the flour when you buy it, or a few of their eggs are, and if you keep the flour too long they begin to hatch and breed. I dont think they are particularly harmful but they can be a bugger to get rid of.

Chuck out anything with them in and disinfect the cupboard where the flour was.

Keeping the flour in a sealed container may not stop them getting in but it should stop them spreading if they are already in the flour.