Bug Identifier
Drugstore Beetle
Community identification

Drugstore Beetle

Stegobium paniceum

Order & Family
Coleoptera: Ptinidae
Size
2.25 mm to 3.5 mm in length
See this bug in the Encyclopedia

Natural Habitat

Found worldwide, typically in kitchens, pantries, and warehouses where dried food or organic materials are stored.

Diet & Feeding

A wide variety of dried plant and animal products including flour, bread, spices, pharmaceutical drugs, and leather.

Behavior Patterns

Adults are active flyers and are attracted to light. They lay eggs in food sources; the larvae bore into the material, creating tunnels as they feed.

Risks & Benefits

Considered a common household pest because they contaminate stored food. They are not harmful to humans or pets through bites or stings, but can cause significant economic damage to food stocks.