Bug Identifier
Drugstore beetle
Community identification

Drugstore beetle

Stegobium paniceum

Order & Family
Order Coleoptera, Family Ptinidae
Size
2 to 3.5 millimeters in length.
See this bug in the Encyclopedia

Natural Habitat

Found indoors in pantries, kitchens, and anywhere dry stored goods or pharmaceuticals are kept.

Diet & Feeding

Feeds on a wide variety of dry plant and animal products, including flour, grains, spices, pet food, and even toxic drugs.

Behavior Patterns

Adults are strong fliers and are often attracted to lights. Females lay eggs directly on food sources, where the larvae tunnel and feed.

Risks & Benefits

They do not bite or sting, but they are major household and industrial pests that ruin stored food and contaminate products.