
Community identification
Drugstore beetle
Stegobium paniceum
- Order & Family
- Coleoptera: Ptinidae
- Size
- 2.25 mm to 3.5 mm
Natural Habitat
Indoor environments, Pantries, warehouses, and libraries
Diet & Feeding
Omnivorous scavengers; feeds on flour, bread, spices, dried herbs, books, and leather
Behavior Patterns
Attracted to light; females lay up to 75 eggs in food sources; larvae consume food and create tunnels
Risks & Benefits
Contaminates household food supplies and can cause significant damage to historical documents and book bindings; generally harmless to humans directly