Sawtoothed Grain Beetle

Natural Habitat

Pantry, food processing and storage facilities, homes. They are often found in cracks and crevices in shelves and pantries where food debris accumulates.

Diet & Feeding

They are scavengers that feed on a wide variety of stored products, including cereal products (flour, cereals, pasta), dried fruits, nuts, pet food, birdseed, and other processed food items. They prefer damaged grains or processed foods rather than whole, intact grains.

Behavior Patterns

Sawtoothed grain beetles are highly mobile and can quickly infest food sources. They do not fly. Females lay eggs directly on or in food products. Larvae are slender and yellowish-white with a brown head. The entire life cycle can be completed in about 20-35 days under optimal conditions (warm temperatures and high humidity), leading to rapid population growth.

Risks & Benefits

Risks: They are a significant pest of stored food products, capable of causing considerable economic damage by contaminating food with their bodies, feces, and cocoons, rendering it unfit for consumption. They do not bite or transmit diseases to humans. Benefits: Generally, there are no direct benefits of these beetles to humans or the ecosystem in a domestic or agricultural context, as their primary role is as a stored product pest.

Identified on: 9/5/2025