Bread beetle

Stegobium paniceum

Like the American rice flour beetle, the bread beetle is one of the most serious and widespread storage pests in the world. In addition to bread, pastries, flour, rice, pulses, chocolate, coffee substitutes, tea, nuts, dried mushrooms, spices and herbs, it also feeds on cork, leather and paper. Found in warehouses, food processing plants and libraries. Reddish-brown, approx. 3 mm long beetle. Whole animal does not feed. Lays up to 100 eggs on food materials. Newly hatched larvae are white, spread over long distances and penetrate everywhere. Pupa in oval cases spun together from food particles. Usually only one generation per year.