Dr. Chris Holderman from Central Life Sciences joins the podcast to discuss all things litter beetles including; identification, life cycle, problems the cause and controlling them.

Additional Information:
Compost:
In general, compost temperature is needed to be around 160 F for 3-4 days kill insects.

Insecticides to consider for your IPM plan, remember to rotate active ingredients with different modes of action (different IRAC numbers), always read and follow the label instructions, The Label is the Law:
IGRs- insect growth regulators, break the lifecycle but don’t kill adults, the following Active ingredients: Novaluron Group 15, Pyriproxyfen Group 7.
Adulticides - When developing a rotation plan pick products from different classes: pyrethroids Group 3, Neonicotinoids Group 4, Spinosyns Group 5.
Also consider Boric Acid treatments, physical barriers (aluminum tape, etc.) and in all cases ensure an appropriate cleaning and disinfection program is implemented.

References and Further Reading
General beetle info:
https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/livestock/poultry/lesser_mealworm.htm__;!!HXCxUKc!jaNsL_aciajebL47kvNYnbxGpFDAZSm373_341j6sHVBOwwYezOi18wgMWg3tR3IeB0$

https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.thepoultrysite.com/articles/best-practice-on-the-farm-darkling-beetle-control::text=Insecticide20should20be20applied20both,other20houses20on20the20farm__;I34lJSUlJSUlJQ!!HXCxUKc!jaNsL_aciajebL47kvNYnbxGpFDAZSm373_341j6sHVBOwwYezOi18wgMWg3urxlZcg$ .

Beetle Traps:
https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://extension.okstate.edu/programs/livestock-entomology/the-litter-beetle-project.html__;!!HXCxUKc!jaNsL_aciajebL47kvNYnbxGpFDAZSm373_341j6sHVBOwwYezOi18wgMWg3nT4g6iY$