Bug Identifier
Drugstore Beetle (or Stegobium paniceum)
Community identification

Drugstore Beetle (or Stegobium paniceum)

Stegobium paniceum

Order & Family
Order: Coleoptera; Family: Ptinidae
Size
2.25 mm to 3.5 mm in length
See this bug in the Encyclopedia

Natural Habitat

Found worldwide, primarily in domestic settings, pantries, warehouses, and bakeries.

Diet & Feeding

Generalist feeders that consume various dried plant products, including flour, cereal, nuts, spices, dried fruits, and even prescription drugs.

Behavior Patterns

Adults are capable of flying and are attracted to light; the larvae are the primary feeders, burrowing into food sources and creating silky tunnels.

Risks & Benefits

Considered a significant pest of stored products; they can contaminate and spoil food supplies, but they do not bite humans or transmit diseases.