Biscuit Beetle (or Drugstore Beetle)

Natural Habitat

Biscuit beetles are common household pests and can be found globally. They thrive in warm, humid conditions and are typically found in pantries, kitchens, warehouses, and anywhere dry food products are stored.

Diet & Feeding

The larvae of the biscuit beetle are generalist feeders and infest a wide variety of dry stored food products. This includes grains, cereals, baked goods (like biscuits, hence the name), dried pet food, spices, chocolate, dried fruits, tobacco, and even non-food items like drugs, books, and leather.

Behavior Patterns

The biscuit beetle is attracted to light and can be found flying, especially at dusk. Adults are relatively short-lived (2-4 weeks) and do not feed, but reproduce rapidly. Females lay eggs on food sources, and larvae are the destructive stage, tunneling through food as they grow. They pupate within the food material.

Risks & Benefits

Risks: Biscuit beetles are primarily pantry pests and can cause significant damage to stored food products, rendering them inedible and necessitating disposal. They can also contaminate food with their droppings and bodily parts. They do not bite or transmit diseases. Benefits: None in a household or commercial pest context; they are solely considered a nuisance and economic pest.

Identified on: 9/1/2025