Originally from India, this species was first found in Europe in about 1877. Nowadays it is a widespread, but local and rather rare species in Belgium. It is sometimes a pest of stored products, especially in flour mills and large bakeries.

The larva lives in a sliken tube on flour. It also occurs on other stored vegetable products or on dead insects. It hibernates. It pupates in a tough silken cocoon attached to a solid object near its food.

The adults have been observed from April till October and are most often found indoors.