Grain Beetle Facts

• Color: Reddish-brown
• Size: A tenth of an inch in length
• Appearance: On both sides of a grain beetle’s body or thorax, there are six projections that are shaped like the teeth of a saw

Grain Beetle Behavior

The grain beetle can be found throughout the world, and it loves to attack many common types of food. Macaroni, sugar, biscuit mixes, rice and cereal frequently fall victim to the grain beetle. Homeowners commonly find grain beetles in locations where dry food is stored. Although diseases aren’t associated with grain beetles, nobody wants to eat cereal that has had grain beetles swimming in it. A grain beetle cannot eat through a hard seed of corn, but it loves attacking processed cereal.

A grain beetle’s eggs are microscopic and white-colored. The full-grown larvae are usually an eighth of an inch in length. Grain beetles are known to cause problems in commercial facilities and homes. A typical grain beetle is 2.5 to 3 mm in length and can be identified by its flat body. The tiny projections on a grain beetle are always located behind its head. Although a magnifying glass is required to truly see what they look like, the tiny projections are what give the grain beetle its name.