[1] Many beetles in the genus are well known as economically important pests that infest stored foodstuffs.

[1] These beetles specialize on legumes of the tribe Phaseoleae, which includes many types of beans used for food.

At least 11 species of legumes are natural hosts for these beetles, including wild and domesticated plants.

[2] C. maculatus in particular is well adapted to living in dry beans and seeds because it does not require food or water to reproduce.

[3] C. maculatus has also been studied in the field of reproductive biology because of the sexual conflict that occurs between mating male and female.