Confused Flour Beetle

Natural Habitat

Commonly found in stored food products in pantries, kitchens, food processing plants, and warehouses. They prefer warm, humid environments.

Diet & Feeding

Omnivorous scavengers, primarily feeding on stored grains and grain products such as flour, cereal, pasta, pet food, and dried fruit. They can also feed on nuts, seeds, and spices.

Behavior Patterns

Confused flour beetles are attracted to light but prefer dark, secluded places for harborage. They often play dead when disturbed. Larvae and adults can infest stored products, with adults typically living for several months to over a year. Females can lay hundreds of eggs over their lifespan, usually in the food source.

Risks & Benefits

Potential risks include contamination and spoilage of stored food products, rendering them inedible or reducing their nutritional value. They can cause significant economic losses in the food industry. They are not known to bite or transmit diseases to humans. Benefits are negligible, as they are considered pests.

Identified on: 8/15/2025