Saw-toothed grain beetle

Natural Habitat

Commonly found in pantries, food processing plants, warehouses, and grocery stores. They infest stored dry food products and can live in cracks and crevices where food debris accumulates.

Diet & Feeding

Mainly feed on processed or broken grains and a wide variety of stored dry food products such as cereals, flour, pasta, pet food, nuts, dried fruits, and tobacco. They prefer foods with high oil content.

Behavior Patterns

Saw-toothed grain beetles are known for their ability to easily infest stored food products due to their flat bodies which allow them to get into packaging. Both adults and larvae feed on damaged grains and processed foods. They do not fly often, but can if temperatures are warm enough. Females lay eggs directly onto food sources, and the entire life cycle from egg to adult takes about 3-4 weeks under optimal conditions.

Risks & Benefits

Potential risks include significant economic losses due to infestation and contamination of stored food products, rendering them unfit for consumption. They do not bite or sting humans and are not known to transmit diseases. There are no direct benefits to humans or the ecosystem as they are primarily pests.

Identified on: 8/16/2025