Stegobium paniceum Insect Coleopter Spider Death-Watch Beetle Ptinidae

Stegobium paniceum mm 2-4 Insect Coleopter Spider Death-Watch Beetle Ptinidae.
Family: Ptinidae (Subfamily: Anobiinae).
Common name: Drugstore Beetle, Bread Beetle or Biscuit Beetle.

Stegobium paniceum is a tiny, brown beetle that can be found infesting a wide variety of dried plant products, where it is among the most common non-weevils to be found. It is the only member of the genus Stegobium.
S. paniceum has a worldwide distribution although it is more common in warm climates. It is similar in appearance to the cigarette beetle (Lasioderma serricorne), but is slightly larger (adults can be up to 3.5mm long). Additionally, bread beetles have antennae that end in 3-segmented mallets, while cigarette beetles have serrated antennae. S. paniceum also has grooves running longitudinally along the elytra, while L. serricorne is smooth.
S. paniceum larvae are small white larvae, which can be distinguished from L. serricorne larvae by their shorter hairs. The female can lay up to 75 eggs at the same time and the larval period lasts up to several months depending on the food source. It is the larvae that are responsible for most of the damage this species can cause.
S. paniceum lives in obligatory symbiosis with a yeast fungus, which is transmitted to the offspring by covering the eggs.
As the name suggests, the drugstore beetle has a tendency to feed on drug products. This is due to his preference for dried herbs and plant material sometimes used as drugs and spices; for example. Drugstore beetles are known to feed on strychnine, a highly toxic herbal extract. It can also feed on a wide variety of dried foods, as well as hair, skin, books and museum specimens. S. paniceum is also known as the biscuit or bread beetle as it can live on these products. They often enter a home in bulk items such as grains. Although adult beetles do not feed, they are able to pierce the packages and foods where they lay their eggs, infesting all kinds of food.