Drugstore Beetle
ExploreInsects
Drugstore Beetle
Stegobium paniceum
The Drugstore Beetle is a tiny insect that loves to munch on dried foods like grains and spices. They are small and brown, making them hard to spot in your kitchen!
Habitat: Urban areas
Appearance
The Drugstore Beetle is a small, reddish-brown to dark brown insect with a cylindrical body covered in fine, short hairs. Its head is often tucked deeply under its pronotum, making it hard to see from above. It has distinct antennae ending in a three-segmented club, distinguishing it from other common pantry pests.
KingdomAnimaliaPhylumArthropodaClassInsectaOrderColeopteraFamilyAnobiidaeGenusStegobium
Category
InsectsRarity
Common
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Snaps
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Interesting facts
Female beetles can lay hundreds of tiny eggs, ensuring many new beetles!
Its scientific name, Stegobium paniceum, means "bread-eating cupboard-dweller"!
They can chew through aluminum foil and even lead to get to food!
They once infested an ancient Egyptian tomb, eating mummified food!
Special abilities
Ability
Super Survivor Stomach
Drugstore Beetles can digest an incredible variety of foods, even toxic ones, that helps them survive in many environments.
Ability
Packaging Penetrator
Drugstore Beetles have strong mandibles that help them chew through paper, foil, and plastic to reach their food.
Ability
Distant Dinner Detector
Drugstore Beetles have sensitive antennae that help them locate hidden food sources from a considerable distance.
Ability
Toxin Tolerator
Drugstore Beetles can withstand many chemicals and even some poisons, which helps them infest a wide range of products.
Measurements & details
- Wingspan
- 4-7 mm
- Size
- 2-3.5 mm
- Lifespan
- 40-90 days
- Leg Count
- 6
Diet & Feeding
These tiny beetles are omnivores, eating almost any dried plant or animal product they find.
Age differences: Larvae cause most of the feeding damage before pupating.
Primary Foods
- dried pasta
- pet food
- spices
- dried fruit
- tobacco
- books
Foraging Method
- Foraging
Ecological connections
eaten by
Drugstore Beetle Parasitoid Wasp
Pteromalus paniceus
Wasp larvae feed inside the beetle larva.
eaten by
Predatory Clerid Beetle
Thaneroclerus buqueti
This beetle hunts and eats drugstore beetle larvae.
eaten by
House Mouse
Mus musculus
Mice may eat larvae and adult beetles.
Traits
Solitary
Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care.
Scavenger
Scavengers consume dead organic matter, helping to decompose carcasses and other waste in the ecosystem.
Herbivorous
This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material.
Decomposer
Describes organisms that break down dead organic material, recycling nutrients back into the ecosystem.
Diurnal
Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night.
Miniature
Pertaining to species that are significantly smaller than typical or average for their kind.
Urban Friendly
This habitat trait indicates species that can coexist with humans in urban and suburban environments, utilizing man-made structures and green spaces.
Also known as
Bread BeetleFlour Beetle
Collections
Safety
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Don't touch insects without asking an adult, as some can bite or sting.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Drugstore Beetle's wingspan?
4-7 mm
How big is Drugstore Beetle?
2-3.5 mm
How long does Drugstore Beetle live?
40-90 days
What does Drugstore Beetle eat?
These tiny beetles are omnivores, eating almost any dried plant or animal product they find.
Where is Drugstore Beetle usually found?
Urban areas
How does Drugstore Beetle hunt?
Foraging
How many legs does Drugstore Beetle have?
6
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