INTRODUCTION. The sawtoothed grain beetle gets its common name from the 6 teeth located on each side of the prothorax. It is one of the most important pests of stored products found in the home and grocery stores. It is worldwide in distribution.

RECOGNITION. Adults about 1/8in (2.5-3 mm) long, with body flattened. Color brown.  With 6 sawlike teeth on each side of prothorax.  Length of temple (region, directly behind eye) greater than half the vertical diameter of eye.  Wings well developed, but not observed in flight.

     Mature larva yellowish white.  Less than 1/8in (3 mm) long.  Elongated, without urogomphi (paired processes projecting from last abdominal segment), relatively smooth.  Antennae 3-segmented with 2^nd segment longest and 3^rd very small.  The merchant, foreign, and squarenecked grain beetles share this same description.

HABITS. The sawtoothed grain beetle does considerable damage to grains but it cannot attack sound kernels.  Its flat body form permits access through very small cracks and into imperfectly sealed packages.

     Adults are not known to fly and are not attracted to light.

     It attacks an extremely wide variety of foodstuffs which include cereals, bread, breakfast foods, macaroni, dried fruits, nuts, sugar, chocolate, dried meats, candy bars, drugs, tobacco, snuff, and many other products.

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