Saw-Tooth Beetles

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What is a Saw-Tooth Beetle?

Adult Saw-Tooth beetles usually live from 6 to 10 months, but some can live up to 3 years. Eggs are dropped loosely among foodstuffs or tucked away in crevices in kernels of grain by the female. A single egg or a small mass of eggs may be laid in crevices in the food supply or in food items that are not stored, such as flour or cereal. Emerging larvae crawl to feed on food when the white, slender eggs hatch. Finely divided food particles are eaten by the larva, not whole grains or large particles. A sticky secretion is used to join small grains or fragments of foodstuffs together to form delicate cocoon-like coverings. The larva changes into a pupa within this cell. A summer egg may develop from an egg to an adult in three to four weeks

Unlike other beetles, saw tooth beetles cannot fly in warmer climates. It is common to find these beetles infesting pet food, bird seed, and rodent bait; they feed on all grain and grain products, especially flours, meals, cereals, dried meats, breakfast foods, stock feeds, coconuts, nuts, candies, and dried fruit. Food packages contain crevices and cracks that are easy for these pests to penetrate.

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What Damage Do Saw-Tooth Beetles Cause?

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Treating Saw-Tooth Beetles

Eliminating Saw-tooth Beetles usually involves inspecting food stored near the beetle sightings. Discard infested items after inspecting them. Grain products, such as cereals, should be given special attention. You should also include nuts, dried fruit, macaroni, chocolate, and other similar items. Food particles that have been divided and are smaller grained are fed to larvae. A whole grain cannot be nibbled or eaten by them. Other beetles that break down whole grains may be found with these beetles.

It is recommended to seal up food in an airtight container if an item passes inspection, such as chocolate or cereal.
Cleaning and vacuuming are two other non-chemical Sawtooth Beetle treatments.