
Community identification
Drugstore Beetle
Stegobium paniceum
- Order & Family
- Order: Coleoptera; Family: Ptinidae (formerly Anobiidae)
- Size
- 2 mm to 3.5 mm in length
Natural Habitat
Pantropical and temperate regions; often found indoors in kitchens, pantries, pharmacies, and museums.
Diet & Feeding
Highly versatile; feeds on dried plant products, tobacco, spices, cereal, flour, old books, and even prescription drugs.
Behavior Patterns
Adults can fly and are attracted to light; they do not feed but perform a short lifecycle (2-7 months). Larvae are the primary feeders, boring through materials.
Risks & Benefits
A significant pest of stored products; can damage historical artifacts and contaminate food supplies but poses no direct physical sting or bite danger to humans.