Drugstore Beetle

Natural Habitat

Worldwide distribution; typically found in pantries, kitchens, and food storage facilities, as well as libraries and museums.

Diet & Feeding

Broadly omnivorous; feeds on dried plant materials, tobacco, spices (especially paprika and chili powder), flour, cereal, and even unconventional items like book bindings or leather.

Behavior Patterns

Adults are capable of flight and are attracted to light. They have a symbiotic relationship with a yeast that helps them digest low-nutrient food. Females lay eggs on food sources; larvae burrow into the material to feed and grow through several instars before pupating.

Risks & Benefits

Major pest of stored products; they can cause significant economic damage to food supplies and historical artifacts. They do not bite humans or transmit diseases, but they contaminate food items they infest.

Identified on: 3/24/2026