Sawtoothed Grain Beetle
Contact: Eric Day, Manager, Insect Identification Laboratory
August 1996
Saw Toothed Grain Beetle
Size
1/10 to 1/8 inch (2-3mm)
Color
Brown
Description
The adult is a small, active, brown beetle, 2-3mm
long, with a flattened body and six saw-toothed projections on
each side of the thorax. The larva is yellowish-white, about 2-3mm
long, with a brown head. The abdomen tapers toward the tip. The
saw-toothed grain beetle (Oryzaephilus surinamensis) is a common
pest known throughout most of the world. A closely related species,
Oryzaephilus mercator, is also important and is often mistaken
for the saw-toothed grain beetle.
Habitat
The saw-toothed grain beetle is a common pest in grocery
stores, food warehouses, and grain storage.
Life Cycle
The females live from 6 to 10 months and deposit
45 to 285 eggs in foodstuffs. Several generations may occur each
year, as the life cycle requires only 3 to 4 weeks during the
summer.
Type of Damage
It readily penetrates packaged cereals, dried
fruits, and candies. It also attacks flour, meal, sugar, drugs,
dried meat, and tobacco.
Control
Controlling this pantry pest requires careful inspection
of all cereal foods, discarding the heavily infested material,
repackaging material in new containers, and vacuuming kitchen
cabinets. Vacuuming the cabinets will be much more beneficial
than washing them. Vacuuming will remove flour dust and scraps
in the cracks and crevices of the cabinet. Washing may make a
paste of the flour.
Interesting Factsheets
Adults do not fly and live about 6 to 10 months,
with some living up to three years.