The drugstore beetle, named for its tendency to infest prescription drugs, is a member of the family of Ptinidae beetles, first described by Swedish zoologist Carl Linnaeus in 1758.
Size:2.25 to 3.5 mm (1/10 to 1/7 inch)
Color:These beetles are uniformly reddish-brown or brown.
Other Characteristic Features:It is cylindrical, with a series of fine setae on the elytra.
The grubs are white, with the later instars being more scarab-like.
Once mature, the larvae begin to pupate.
A female beetle can lay up to 75 eggs at once.
| Other names | Bread beetle, biscuit beetle |
| Lifespan | 2-4 weeks |
| Distribution | Cosmopolitan |
| Habitat | Warm climates |
| Seasons active | Year-round |
| Diet of adults | Does not feed |
The larvae are known to target prescription drugs, also feeding on various foodstuffs like biscuits and bread and other sweets and spices.
Image Source: grainscanada.gc.ca, whatseatingyourcollection.com, bugguide.net, live.staticflickr.com, cdn.branchcms.com, schendelpest.com, merkur.de
The drugstore beetle, named for its tendency to infest prescription drugs, is a member of the family of Ptinidae beetles, first described by Swedish zoologist Carl Linnaeus in 1758.
Size:2.25 to 3.5 mm (1/10 to 1/7 inch)
Color:These beetles are uniformly reddish-brown or brown.
Other Characteristic Features:It is cylindrical, with a series of fine setae on the elytra.
The grubs are white, with the later instars being more scarab-like.
Once mature, the larvae begin to pupate.
A female beetle can lay up to 75 eggs at once.
| Other names | Bread beetle, biscuit beetle |
| Lifespan | 2-4 weeks |
| Distribution | Cosmopolitan |
| Habitat | Warm climates |
| Seasons active | Year-round |
| Diet of adults | Does not feed |
The larvae are known to target prescription drugs, also feeding on various foodstuffs like biscuits and bread and other sweets and spices.
Image Source: grainscanada.gc.ca, whatseatingyourcollection.com, bugguide.net, live.staticflickr.com, cdn.branchcms.com, schendelpest.com, merkur.de
