Larder Beetle

Natural Habitat

Indoors within pantries, kitchens, or museum collections; outdoors in bird nests, animal burrows, or near animal carcasses.

Diet & Feeding

Scavengers that feed on high-protein animal products including cured meats, dried fish, pet food, cheese, feathers, furs, and dead insects.

Behavior Patterns

Adults are active flyers and are attracted to light. Larvae are the primary feeders, characterized by a fuzzy brown appearance with two curved spines on their rear. They undergo complete metamorphosis and often bore into wood or mortar to pupate.

Risks & Benefits

Considered a significant household and commercial pest due to contamination of food and damage to organic materials like wool or leather. Benefit: In the wild, they act as important decomposers, cleaning up animal remains.

Identified on: 4/25/2026