Drugstore Beetle

Natural Habitat

Found worldwide, primarily in indoor environments like pantries, kitchens, and warehouses where dried plant products are stored.

Diet & Feeding

Polyphagous; feeds on a vast variety of dried plant products including flour, spices (especially chili powder and paprika), bread, pasta, cereals, tobacco, leather, wool, and even prescription drugs (hence the name).

Behavior Patterns

Adults are strong fliers and are attracted to light. They are often found wandering away from the infested food source. The larvae do the damage by tunneling through the food material.

Risks & Benefits

Risks: A major pantry pest that can infest and contaminate a wide range of stored food products, rendering them inedible. They do not bite or sting humans and are not known to transmit disease, but their presence is a nuisance and indicates spoiled goods. Benefits: None in a household setting; they help decompose dried organic matter in the wild.

Identified on: 2/10/2026