Larder Beetle

Indoor environments such as kitchens, pantries, and storage areas; outdoor habitats include bird nests and animal carcasses.

Scavengers that feed on high-protein organic material including cured meats, dried fish, cheese, pet food, animal hides, and dead insects.

Adults are active flyers and are often attracted to light. They undergo complete metamorphosis; larvae are active crawlers and are the primary stage responsible for food damage. They often bore into wood or soft materials to pupate.

Risk: Considered a common household pest that can contaminate stored food products and damage items like taxidermy or wool. Benefit: In nature, they serve as important decomposers, helping to break down animal remains.