Small, slender, flattened and elongated, reddish brown beetles, do not usually damage whole grains, but found more in broken bits, and flour, or grain previously infested by other pests. The damage is less due to feeding, but more due to contamination of the stored product with large numbers of various life stages, dead bodies, cast skins, and faecal pellets. They also produce pungent substances during their activities that can seriously affect the quality of grain, and result in reduced marketability, and consumption by and, livestock. Heavy infestations also cause heat build-up in storage containers, resulting in secondary moulds growth.