Merchant Grain Beetle / Sawtoothed Grain Beetle

Natural Habitat

Commonly found in pantries, kitchens, grocery stores, and food processing facilities where dried goods are stored.

Diet & Feeding

Opportunistic feeders on processed cereals, oats, flour, pasta, dried fruits, nuts, seeds, and candy.

Behavior Patterns

They are highly mobile and can crawl into very small crevices in food packaging. They do not attack whole grains but feed on broken kernels or finely ground materials. They undergo a complete metamorphosis from egg to adult in about 25-50 days depending on temperature.

Risks & Benefits

They do not bite, sting, or carry diseases, but they are major pests that cause food spoilage. Infested food must be discarded to prevent the spread of the population.

Identified on: 3/9/2026