The tiny sawtoothed grain beetle (3 mm) is one of the more common household stored product pests.
When you see an insect indoors it’s often difficult to tell whether it’s merely an accidental invader or whether it has set up housekeeping in your home. If just one or a few insects are seen, or if the insects are mostly found around windows, or trapped in bathtubs or sinks, chances are that they are accidental invaders and not likely to pose an ongoing pest problem. If you find insects repeatedly over time, especially in kitchens or pantries or closets, chances are you have a pest that is feeding on your food or clothing (or furs or feathers).
These publications will help you recognize the common stored product and fabric pests in the home.
- Recognizing and controlling stored product pests (ENT-2007) Provides an overview, with pictures, of some of the most common food and fabric pests.
- Pantry and Fabric Pests in the Home E-486 Detailed coverage of the most important pests, with instructions on control and monitoring.
- Cigarette and drugstore beetles (ENT-2004) The most common beetle pests of stored food are described here.
- Hide and larder beetles (ENT-2014) Nature’s scavenger crew clean the bones of dead animals. What are they doing in your home?