
Community identification
Sawtoothed Grain Beetle
Oryzaephilus surinamensis
- Order & Family
- Coleoptera: Silvanidae
- Size
- 2.5 to 3 mm (about 1/10 to 1/8 inch)
Natural Habitat
Pantries, kitchens, and food storage facilities containing dried goods.
Diet & Feeding
Scavenges on dried plant products like cereal, flour, pasta, nuts, seeds, and dried fruit.
Behavior Patterns
Extremely flat body allows them to crawl into thin crevices and sealed packaging; they do not fly despite having wings.
Risks & Benefits
A common household pest that causes food spoilage; it is not harmful to health but can infest and ruin large quantities of stored food.