
Community identification
Small pantry beetle (likely a drugstore beetle)
Stegobium paniceum
- Order & Family
- Coleoptera; Ptinidae
- Size
- About 2–3.5 mm (0.08–0.14 in) long.
Natural Habitat
Pantries, kitchens, cupboards, and dry stored-food areas; adults may wander onto household surfaces.
Diet & Feeding
Larvae feed inside dried foods such as flour, cereals, spices, pet food, dried herbs, and pharmaceuticals. Adults generally feed little or not at all.
Behavior Patterns
Adults are reddish-brown, oval, and capable of flight; larvae develop concealed within infested packages, leaving small exit holes. Infestations can persist for months in neglected dry goods.
Risks & Benefits
Not dangerous to people and do not bite, sting, or transmit disease, but they contaminate and damage stored products. Discard infested food and inspect nearby packages for larvae, webbing, or holes.