Drugstore Beetle

Natural Habitat

Global distribution; found in pantries, warehouses, libraries, and pharmacies where food or organic materials are stored.

Diet & Feeding

Broad range of dried organic products including flour, bread, cereal, spices (especially paprika and chili powder), tobacco, and even leather or prescription drugs.

Behavior Patterns

They are strong fliers and are attracted to light. Adult beetles do not feed but spend their life seeking mates and laying eggs into food sources. They have a symbiotic relationship with yeast that allows them to survive on low-nutrient foods.

Risks & Benefits

Major pest of stored products; they can ruin household food and contaminate pantry items with feces and shed skins. While they do not bite humans or pets and carry no known diseases, they pose significant economic risks to the food industry and historical archives.

Identified on: 1/13/2026