The warehouse beetle is an important pest of stored products worldwide. It has been found infesting over 90 products, including dried plants, cake mix, candy, cereals, cocoa, cookies, corn, dog food, egg noodles, grits, oats, peas, raisins, rice, spices, fish meal, and yeast. It will even feed on dead animal materials. The larvae prefer high-protein items such as seeds, fish meal, legumes and nuts.

Adults are oblong and 3.2 mm in length. Their color is brownish black with yellowish to yellowish brown markings. The elytra (wing covers) have pale basal, submedial and subapical bands. The adults are good fliers. Adult females lay up to 90 eggs over several days. The larvae are up to 6.3 mm long. Early instars are yellowish white, while the middle instars are brownish and late instars are dark brown. The larvae are covered with long hairs. Development time from egg to adult is 32 to 43 days. This insect has overlapping generations with two to 2 1/2 generations per year.

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