Spencer Pest Services will be operating under the Rocket Pest Control brand going forward. You're still in the right place to schedule pest control services!

Sawtoothed Grain Beetles

What do sawtoothed grain beetles look like?

Sawtoothed grain beetles are small insects and have flat, narrow bodies that are brown in color. Though these insects are winged, they are not known to fly. Adult sawtoothed grain beetles are most commonly identified by the rows of saw-like teeth located on the first body segment behind their head. Sawtooth grain beetle larvae are small, whitish-colored grubs with brown heads.

sawtoothed grain beetle

Why are sawtoothed grain beetles in my home?

Homes most often become infested with sawtoothed grain beetles when these pests are introduced into homes through products that were already infested with sawtooth grain beetles or their larvae that were purchased from grocery stores. These infestations usually originate at the packaging facility that the products came from. Sawtoothed grain beetles have flat bodies that allow them to easily enter into broken kernels of grain and food packaging – these pests do not infest whole grains. Sawtoothed grain beetles typically infest and feed on items like bread, cereal, dry pasta, dried meats, candy, sugar, dried fruits, nuts, tobaccos, and many other dry packaged goods.

Are sawtoothed grain beetles dangerous?

Sawtoothed grain beetles aren’t considered to be dangerous to people, but they are a significant nuisance pest. Sawtoothed grain beetles contaminate food sources found inside the homes they are invading. To protect your family’s food sources, a sawtoothed grain beetle infestation should be dealt with quickly by a trained professional.

How do you get rid of sawtoothed grain beetles?

Sawtoothed grain beetles are often accidentally introduced into homes after a trip to the grocery store, and therefore, it can be difficult to prevent an infestation. At Spencer Pest Services, we can eliminate sawtoothed grain beetles from your property through our year-round residential pest control packages. Our pest control professionals have the experience and training needed to control the sawtoothed grain beetles populations in your home and to prevent future problems with them as well. Contact us today for specifics about our sawtoothed grain beetle services!

Sawtoothed grain beetle prevention tips

Along with professional services, there are several things you can do in and around your home to prevent and deter sawtoothed grain beetles. Prevention tips include:

  • Thoroughly inspecting food packaging for holes, rips, and tears before purchasing it. 
  • Making sure that your kitchen and the food storage areas inside of your home like pantry areas are properly ventilated to stop moisture from building up.
  • Making sure to thoroughly wipe down and dust your kitchen counters, cabinets, and pantry areas, removing crumbs and any other food debris.
  • Store dry goods in air-tight containers instead of in their original packaging.
  • Routinely go through dry goods stored in your home, eliminating old or expired items.