You might have heard of the sawtooth sword or even found it while playing Assassin’s Creed 3. This particular beetle obtained its name from six sawtooth-like projections from its midsection, much like the serrated edges of the aforementioned sword.
They are brown, small and 2.4 to 3 mm in size. These ghastly insects feed chiefly on grain-based products, cereal, dried fruits, spices, flour, pet goods, nuts, tobacco, drugs and chocolates among other stored food products. Furthermore, they contaminate more food than they actually eat.
Using their flat, slender bodies, saw-toothed grain beetles crawl into cracks of broken kernels of grain. They do not feed on whole grains. They will then proceed to lay their eggs into the food. It will take approximately 2 months for the eggs to become mature adult beetles. Thankfully these insects do not harm humans and cannot fly. I would freak out if swarms of these beetles flew around the house from my pantry. They also do not spread diseases or damage furniture in your house. However, they can chew through cellophane, plastic, cardboard and foil to reach their desired food.
To detect these beetles, grab a torchlight and examine all your food products closely. They will be in your pantry products or crawling across the shelves. Empty your pantry, dump infested foods in heavy plastic bags or sealed containers and throw them away immediately. Vacuum your pantry shelves and counters to remove any remaining beetles and food remnants. You could also scrub your emptied pantry with soap and water to sanitize it. Thoroughly dry your pantry afterwards. If you have pets, make sure that the pet food is kept in sealed containers.
When purchasing food, make absolutely certain that the packaging is not torn or damaged and check the expiry date. Stored food products should be placed in tightly sealed glass or heavy plastic containers. Stowing them into the refrigerator or freezer is a good idea too.
Using insecticides is not recommended and do not spray them on or near your food as this will contaminate your food. Furthermore, insecticides are useless on insects that are in food packages. If non-chemical procedures stated above have been performed, the usage of insecticides should not be needed. Insecticide application is always the last resort if the infestation becomes severe.