
Community identification
Drugstore beetle
Stegobium paniceum
- Order & Family
- Order Coleoptera, Family Ptinidae
- Size
- 2 to 3.5 millimeters in length.
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.