Drugstore Beetle (or Bread Beetle)

Natural Habitat

Pantropical and ubiquitous in human dwellings, particularly pantries, kitchens, and warehouses where dried food is stored.

Diet & Feeding

A wide variety of dried plant products including flour, bread, cereals, spices, dried herbs, and even non-food items like leather, books, and pharmaceutical drugs.

Behavior Patterns

They are active fliers and are attracted to light. Females lay up to 75 eggs in food sources; they have a symbiotic relationship with yeast that helps them digest complex carbohydrates.

Risks & Benefits

They are significant pantry pests that cause food spoilage and economic loss. They do not bite or sting and are not a direct health threat to humans, but infested food should be discarded.

Identified on: 4/25/2026