How does caffeine affect the red flour beetle?

High concentration of caffeine (1% or more) significantly shortens their lifespan and causes developmental delay, decreased pupation, and smaller body size.

What kind of pest control can this research be applied to?

It is expected to be applied as a new, environmentally friendly natural insecticidal method for controlling grain pests and invasive ants.

Who are the co-researchers of this study?

They are graduate student Shine Shane Naing, Professor Takahisa Miyatake, and Teruhisa Matsuura at Okayama University.

Okayama University: Insects Also Die from Drinking Caffeine - Elucidating the Effects on Beetles Infesting Stored Grain

Published Jun 15, 2026 11:40 AM ・ Updated Jun 15, 2026 2:54 AM ・ 8 min read ・ Source: PR TIMES

A research group at Okayama University has demonstrated that administering caffeine to the red flour beetle, a common stored grain pest, leads to shortened lifespan, developmental delay, and decreased pupation rates. The findings suggest the effectiveness of caffeine as a natural, low-environmental-impact insecticidal component.

June 15, 2026 Okayama University

<Key Points of the Announcement> In recent years, there has been a demand for the development of technologies that effectively control pest damage while reducing environmental impact. Last year, we discovered that flies die when they drink high concentrations of caffeine, a natural plant-derived component. However, it was not known whether this effect extends to pests of other taxonomic groups.

In this study, we investigated in detail the effects of caffeine on the life-history traits of the red flour beetle (Tribolium castaneum), a pest of stored grain. Exposure experiments were conducted on adults and larvae using diets and solutions containing caffeine, and indicators such as lifespan, developmental rate, pupation rate, body size, and food consumption were measured.

As a result, high concentrations of caffeine (1% or higher) significantly shortened the lifespan of both males and females, delayed development, reduced the number of pupae, and decreased body size. On the other hand, at a low concentration (0.01%), although an increase in the number of pupae was observed, a decrease in the quality of offspring, such as a reduction in body size, was confirmed.

These results show that caffeine has negative effects on the growth and reproduction of the red flour beetle, suggesting its efficacy as a natural insecticidal component, and it is expected to be applied as a new means of pest management.

◆ Overview Shine Shane Naing (Myanmar), a third-year doctoral student (sponsored by a government scholarship) at the Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University (Headquarters: Kita-ku, Okayama City; President: Yasutomo Nasu), and Professor Takahisa Miyatake of the Faculty of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University, investigated the effects of feeding caffeine mixed with sugar water to the red flour beetle (Coleoptera), a pest of grains, on lifespan, developmental rate, pupation rate, body size, and food consumption. The results revealed that caffeine has a negative impact on the growth and reproduction of the red flour beetle, suggesting its effectiveness as a natural insecticidal component.

Furthermore, while excessive intake of caffeine is known to have harmful effects on humans, this study clarified that excessive intake is also fatal to insects, highlighting the need for further research in both basic and applied fields.

These research results were published online on May 12, 2026, at 12:00 AM (Japan Time) in "Applied Entomology and Zoology," the journal of the Japanese Society of Applied Entomology and Zoology, published by Springer.

◆ A Word from Professor Takahisa Miyatake High concentrations of caffeine have an insecticidal effect on insects, and this study showed that it also causes a decline in the quality of pests, such as delaying development, even for beetles. In the future, this may be useful for controlling pests in other taxonomic groups, such as invasive ants that have entered Japan, by mixing it with sugar as bait.

◆ Paper Information Title: Effect of caffeine on life-history traits on the red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) Title (Japanese): "Effect of caffeine on life-history traits on the red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae)" Journal: Applied Entomology and Zoology (Springer) Authors: Shine Shane Naing, Teruhisa Matsuura, Takahisa Miyatake DOI: 10.1007/s13355-026-00972-w URL: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13355-026-00972-w

◆ Research Funding This study was conducted with support from JICA - Japan International Cooperation Agency (Myanmar 'Project for Human Resource Development for Agricultural Sector Core') and MEXT (Scholarship for Foreign Students [Special Frame]).

◆ Detailed Research Information Insects Also Die from Drinking Caffeine - Elucidating the Effects on Beetles Infesting Stored Grain https://www.okayama-u.ac.jp/up_load_files/press_r8/press20260512-1.pdf

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Okayama University: Insects Also Die from Drinking Caffeine - Elucidating the Effects on Beetles Infesting Stored Grain

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