Flour beetle larva, coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM). Flour beetle (family Tenebrionidae) larvae are pests of cereal silos and are widely used as laboratory animals, as they are easy to keep. The beetles are adapted to survive in very dry environments and can withstand high amounts of radiation (even more than cockroaches). They are a major pest in the agricultural industry and are highly resistant to insecticides. Magnification: x15 when printed 10 centimetres wide.