What pest are you most likely to find in dry dog food?

The presence of the drug store beetle in dry dog food can largely be attributed to its feeding habits and lifecycle. These small brown beetles are known to infest and feed on a variety of stored products, including grains, flour, and pet food. The larvae of the drug store beetle are particularly adept at tunneling through these products, creating the potential for widespread infestation in a food storage situation.

When examining dog food, it is common to find the drug store beetle because it can easily find its way into packages and thrive in dry, stored environments. It typically goes undetected until the infestation is quite significant, as they can reproduce quickly and sustain themselves on the ingredients within the dog food.

In contrast, while ants, maggots, and other beetles could potentially appear in food items, they are less specifically associated with dry dog food when compared to the drug store beetle. Ants are more often drawn to sources of moisture or sugary substances, maggots are indicative of decomposition and are typically found in food that has spoiled rather than in dry food meant for storage, and many other beetles may not have the same habitual affinity for dry pet foods as the drug store beetle does. Thus, identifying the drug store beetle