SAWTOOHED GRAIN BEETLE INFORMATION & FACTS

The sawtoothed grain beetle, Oryzaephilus surinamensis (L.) is a worldwide stored product pest in commercial facilities and in homes. This pest does tremendous damage to grain, but cannot attack sound kernels. It also favours cereal, bread, sugar, nuts, breakfast food, dried fruit, chocolate, drugs, tobacco, and snuff.

Adult sawtoothed grain beetles are brown, 1/8” long and possess 6 saw-like teeth on each side of their prothorax. Their bodies appear flattened, and their heads have a triangular shape. Sawtoothed grain beetles have a longer temple region than the Merchant Grain Beetle. While its wings are developed, it has not been known to fly. It is also not attracted to light.

Image source: CSIRO

Given the right conditions (warm and humid), the lifecycle can be as quick as 2 months. several generations of sawtoothed grain beetles are possible in a year. Female sawtoothed grain beetles lay her eggs in ground good or within cracks in stored food products. Their eggs hatch into larvae and will feed on this food until they are ready to transform into an adult. The larvae will next build their cocoon from the food they’ve been feeding on and infesting. 

If you discover these pests in your pantry items, or find them crawling on your pantry shelves or on your kitchen counters, you likely have an infestation.

Learn more about how to get rid of pantry pests.