Red-legged Ham Beetle

Natural Habitat

Commonly found in warehouses, meat-processing plants, pantries, and granaries worldwide where stored products are kept.

Diet & Feeding

Both adults and larvae are predatory and scavengers, feeding on cured meats (ham, bacon), dried fish, cheese, bones, animal hides, and the larvae of other pests like the hide beetle.

Behavior Patterns

They are active flyers and strong climbers. Females lay eggs in crevices of food sources or animal products. They undergo complete metamorphosis; larvae prefer dark, undisturbed areas to feed before pupating.

Risks & Benefits

They are considered a significant economic pest of stored foods and museum specimens. While they do not bite humans or transmit diseases directly, they can contaminate food supplies. Beneficially, they help recycle animal remains in nature.

Identified on: 6/25/2026