Sawtoothed Grain Beetle

Natural Habitat

This beetle is primarily found in human-made environments, particularly in places where food is stored or processed. This includes pantries, kitchens, food warehouses, grocery stores, and mills. It thrives in warm, humid conditions.

Diet & Feeding

The sawtoothed grain beetle is a common pest of stored grain products and many other dry food items. It feeds on a wide variety of materials including grains (oats, wheat, corn, rice), flour, pasta, breakfast cereals, dried fruits, nuts, chocolate, pet food, and even spices. Unlike some other grain pests, it cannot feed on undamaged whole grains and prefers broken kernels or processed products.

Behavior Patterns

The adult sawtoothed grain beetle is a very active insect, capable of crawling quickly and also flying. Females lay eggs singly or in small batches directly on food sources. The larvae are small, worm-like, and feed within the food material. The entire life cycle from egg to adult can be completed in as little as 3-4 weeks under optimal conditions (warm and humid), leading to rapid population growth. They are one of the most common pest insects in stored products.

Risks & Benefits

Potential risks include significant economic losses due to spoilage and contamination of stored food products. Infested food becomes unpalatable and unmarketable. They do not bite or sting humans and are not known to transmit diseases, but their presence can cause allergic reactions in sensitive individuals. There are no known benefits to humans or the ecosystem provided by this pest.

Identified on: 8/31/2025