Bugs in Your Pantry: 7 Types and What to Do
Bugs in Your Pantry are one of the most common identification questions we get. Here are 7 you are likely to see.
Quick list
How to narrow it down
Narrow it down with three quick checks. Count the legs: insects have six, spiders and ticks have eight, and centipedes and millipedes have many more. Check for wings, even folded ones. Then compare size against a coin: a US penny is 19 mm across. Our bug identifier tool does this filtering for you.
The 7 bugs
Cigarette Beetle
Cigarette BeetleLasioderma serricorneA tiny, humpbacked, reddish-brown beetle that infests tobacco, spices, dried flowers, cereals and pet food. Adults are strong fliers and are often found near windows.
Tell-tale sign: Rounded, humped body with smooth, ungrooved wing covers. Risk: Cigarette beetles do not bite; they contaminate and damage stored products.
Confused Flour Beetle
Confused Flour BeetleTribolium confusumA flat, slender, reddish-brown beetle common in flour, cake mixes, cereals and other milled foods. Heavy infestations leave a grayish tint and a sharp, unpleasant smell.
Tell-tale sign: Flat, elongated reddish-brown body. Risk: They don't bite or sting; infested flour tastes and smells bad.
Drugstore Beetle
Drugstore BeetleStegobium paniceumA small, reddish-brown pantry beetle with rows of fine grooves along its wing covers. It infests dried foods, spices, pet food, and even books and medicines.
Tell-tale sign: Oval, reddish-brown body with lengthwise grooves. Risk: Drugstore beetles don't bite or spread disease, but they ruin stored food.
Indian Meal Moth
Indian Meal MothPlodia interpunctellaThe most common pantry moth, with wings that are pale gray near the body and coppery bronze at the tips. Larvae spin silk webbing in grains, nuts, cereal, birdseed and dried fruit.
Tell-tale sign: Two-toned wings, cream at the base and rusty bronze at the tips. Risk: Pantry moths don't bite and aren't toxic; infested food should be thrown away.
Larder Beetle
Larder BeetleDermestes lardariusA dark, oblong beetle with a pale yellowish band across the front half of its back. Its hairy larvae feed on dried meats, pet food, cheese and dead insects.
Tell-tale sign: Dark, oblong body with a light tan band across the wing covers. Risk: Larder beetles don't bite, but larvae can bore into wood and they contaminate food.
Rice Weevil
Rice WeevilSitophilus oryzaeA small, dark weevil with a long snout and four faint reddish spots on its back. Females chew holes in whole grains such as rice, wheat and corn and lay an egg inside each kernel.
Tell-tale sign: Long, narrow snout extending from the head. Risk: Rice weevils cannot bite people and are not harmful if accidentally eaten, but they spoil grain.
Booklouse
BooklouseLiposcelis spp.A tiny, soft, pale insect that feeds on microscopic mold growing on paper, cardboard and stored food. It thrives in humid rooms and new construction.
Tell-tale sign: Very small, pale, wingless body. Risk: Booklice don't bite and aren't true lice; they indicate high humidity and mold.
Which ones should you worry about?
0 of the 7 bugs in this guide can bite or sting. None of them are considered medically significant. The rest are harmless or simply a nuisance.
Comparison at a glance
| Cigarette Beetle | Confused Flour Beetle | Drugstore Beetle | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Group | Beetles | Beetles | Beetles |
| Scientific name | Lasioderma serricorne | Tribolium confusum | Stegobium paniceum |
| Size | 2–3 mm | 3–4 mm | 2–3.5 mm |
| Colors | Brown and Red | Brown and Red | Brown and Red |
| Legs | 6 legs | 6 legs | 6 legs |
| Wings | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Bites or stings | No | No | No |
| Risk | Nuisance | Nuisance | Nuisance |
| Key feature | Rounded, humped body with smooth, ungrooved wing covers | Flat, elongated reddish-brown body | Oval, reddish-brown body with lengthwise grooves |
Frequently asked questions
What is the most common one?
Among the bugs in this guide, the cigarette beetle and confused flour beetle are the ones people ask about most.
Which of these are dangerous?
None of them are medically significant, though some can bite or sting.
How can I identify a bug I found?
Use the free bug identifier tool: choose the number of legs, wings, main color, size and where you found it, and it will list the closest matches.