Merchant Grain Beetle / Sawtoothed Grain Beetle

Natural Habitat

Commonly found in domestic pantries, grocery stores, and food processing facilities worldwide. They hide in cracks and crevices of food storage areas.

Diet & Feeding

Stored dried food products including cereal, flour, pasta, dried fruits, nuts, chocolate, seeds, and dry pet food.

Behavior Patterns

They are highly active scavengers. Although they have wings, they rarely fly. They can crawl through very small gaps and packaging seals to infest food. Their life cycle from egg to adult takes about 25 to 50 days depending on temperature.

Risks & Benefits

They do not bite, sting, or carry diseases, nor do they cause structural damage. However, they are significant pantry pests that contaminate food supplies with their waste and shed skins, necessitating the disposal of infested goods.

Identified on: 4/21/2026