
Community identification
Drugstore beetle
Stegobium paniceum
- Order & Family
- Order: Coleoptera; Family: Ptinidae
- Size
- 2.25 to 3.5 mm in length.
Natural Habitat
Found globally in homes, warehouses, and pantries where dried plant products are stored.
Diet & Feeding
Scavenger that feeds on a wide variety of dried plant materials including flour, bread, spices, books, and dried herbs.
Behavior Patterns
Adults are capable of flight and are attracted to light; the larval stage is primarily responsible for damage through burrowing and feeding.
Risks & Benefits
A major pest of stored products and historical museum collections; they do not bite humans or pets but can contaminate food supplies.