Anobiid-beetle
Guides
Stegobium paniceum
Drugstore Beetle, Bread Beetle, Biscuit Beetle
Stegobium paniceum, commonly known as the drugstore beetle or biscuit beetle, is a small stored-product pest that infests a wide variety of dried plant materials. It is the sole member of the monotypic genus Stegobium. The beetle is notable for its ability to feed on toxic substances including strychnine, tobacco, and habanero peppers, and is a significant pest in homes, warehouses, museums, and the tobacco industry. Adults are attracted to ultraviolet light and females emit sex pheromones that peak 3-4 days after emergence. The species harbors yeast-like symbionts (Symbiotaphrina) that provide nutritional supplementation.