Drugstore Beetle (or Bread Beetle)

Natural Habitat

Found worldwide, primarily in domestic kitchens, pantries, and food processing facilities.

Diet & Feeding

Polyphagous; they eat a wide variety of dried plant products including flour, bread, spices (like paprika and chili powder), seeds, and even pharmaceutical drugs.

Behavior Patterns

Adults are active flyers and are attracted to light. They lay eggs on or near food sources; larvae burrow into the food, creating tunnels as they feed and grow. They are known for their ability to bore through packaging material.

Risks & Benefits

They are major pantry pests that contaminate food with droppings and larvae. While they do not bite or transmit disease to humans, infested food should be discarded as it is considered unfit for consumption.

Identified on: 4/25/2026