The life cycle is temperature dependent. There is a marked reduction in egg hatch below 70 F, and development time from egg to adult increases with decreasing temperature. Most larvae develop through five to nine instars, the number increasing with lower temperatures. The last larval instar pupates in drier areas of the manure or litter, in cracks and crevices or in building insulation. The pupal stage lasts 3 to 10 days.
Adults live three months to a year.
Scavenging hide beetles feed on carcasses, skins, hides, feathers, dead insects, and other animal and plant products. Broken eggs and dead birds in the manure encourage beetle infestations, although large beetle populations may develop even with good sanitation. Eggs are laid on manure and litter surfaces. The hide beetle life cycle does not seem to be as temperature-sensitive as that of the lesser mealworm. Larvae hatch from eggs in 2 to 7 days, depending upon the temperature and relative humidity, and pass through an average of seven instars in 23 to 41 days or more.