Sawtoothed Grain Beetle

Natural Habitat

Pantry environments; infest stored dry food products such as grains, cereals, pasta, dried fruit, nuts, chocolate, and pet food. Can also be found in flour mills, food processing plants, and warehouses.

Diet & Feeding

Omnivorous scavengers, primarily feeding on processed dry stored food products. They do not feed on whole, unbroken grains but on damaged kernels, milled cereals, and other dry processed foods. Both larvae and adults cause damage.

Behavior Patterns

Adults are long-lived (6-10 months) and highly mobile. They are strong fliers but more commonly spread by crawling or being transported within infested food products. Females lay eggs singly or in small batches within cracks or crevices of food materials. Larvae develop within the food, pupating inside a protective case made of food particles. Development from egg to adult takes about 3-4 weeks under optimal conditions (warm, humid). They are often found in large numbers once an infestation is established.

Risks & Benefits

Potential risks include significant economic losses due to spoilage and contamination of stored food products. They can introduce mold and disease-causing organisms to food. They are not known to bite humans or transmit diseases directly. There are no known benefits to humans or the ecosystem; they are considered a pest species.

Identified on: 9/5/2025