
Community identification
Drugstore Beetle (or Cigarette Beetle)
Stegobium paniceum (or Lasioderma serricorne)
- Order & Family
- Order: Coleoptera, Family: Ptinidae
- Size
- 2.25 mm to 3.5 mm in length
Natural Habitat
Pantropical and temperate regions; typically found indoors in kitchens, pantries, and warehouses.
Diet & Feeding
Generalist feeders of dry organic material including flour, bread, spices, dried herbs, books, and leather.
Behavior Patterns
Strong fliers that are often attracted to light; females lay up to 75 eggs in food sources where larvae tunnel and feed.
Risks & Benefits
Potential risk includes damage to stored food products and museum specimens; they are considered a nuisance household pest with no significant ecosystem benefits.