Darkling Beetle – “KUTU FRENGKI”

Nowadays, insects as diseases vector make into concern almost all of the people. In particular at animal husbandry (swine and poultry farm), existence of insects must controlable to avoid economics loss or dead loss. Since appearance of Avian Flu (avian influenza cases), except housefly-Musca domestica, ‘Darkling Beetle’ which in Indonesia be known as ‘Kutu Frengki’ is insect be also important to become interesting focus.

The darkling beetle or lesser mealworm, Alphitobius diaperinus (Panzer), is rapidly becoming more of a nuisance in the poultry operation. Large populations of beetles sometimes migrate into nearby residence areas, especially during litter clean-out time. Although beetles can fly up to one mile, most crawl at night from litter disposed to neighboring fields and homes.

Beetles are frequently associated with poultry feed, preferring grain and cereal products that are damp, moldy and slightly out of condition. Both adults and larvae consume poultry feed in amounts costly to the producer. Larvae are known as lesser mealworms.

Scientists have been able to transmit the causative agent of acute leukosis (Marek's disease) in chickens with this beetle. Positive confirmation of the transmission has been made under both laboratory and field research conditions.

Marek's disease usually affects birds between three and four months old. The disease affects both broiler and egg laying types of poultry. Losses can reach two percent of the flock per day, and mortality may exceed 30 percent of the flock within a few weeks. Contamination may persist in the environment because the darkling beetle may serve as a reservoir for residual contamination. Beetles have been observed feeding on carcasses of poultry dead of leukosis, and it appears that beetles may become contaminated in the process. Adult beetles are capable of retaining the contamination and transmitting the leukosis when eaten by chickens, in the opinion of some scientists. Other diseases which are spread include the causative agents of avian influenza, salmonella, fowl pox, coccidiosis, botulism and new castle disease. They also act as vectors of cecal worms and avian tapeworms.

In the poultry house, the beetle can lay up to 800 eggs in litter during a 42-day period. Eggs develop into larvae in four to seven days. The life cycle requires about 42 to 97 days depending on temperature. Beetles live up to three months to a year.

(Source: Poultry Pest Management-Bulletin 853)