Pest Expert Overview: Drugstore and Cigarette Beetles in Bryan & College Station
Drugstore beetles and cigarette beetles are two closely related stored product pests commonly found in kitchens, pantries, pet food storage areas, and commercial food facilities. They are so similar in appearance, biology, and behavior that grouping them together usually makes more sense for homeowners.
Both are tiny, reddish-brown beetles measuring approximately 1/10 inch long. Their bodies are oval to cylindrical, and their heads are tucked downward beneath the thorax. When viewed from above, they may look like small brown capsules with legs.
Drugstore beetles, Stegobium paniceum, and cigarette beetles, Lasioderma serricorne, are in the Order Coleoptera and the Family Ptinidae. Older references may place them in the Family Anobiidae.
Despite their names, neither species is limited to drugstores or tobacco. Both feed on an unusually wide range of dry food products and other materials. They are usually brought into a home inside an already infested product rather than entering from outdoors.
Drugstore and cigarette beetles are difficult to distinguish without magnification.
The wing covers of drugstore beetles have visible rows of small pits that give them a lined or striated appearance. Their antennae end in a distinct three segmented club.
Cigarette beetles have smoother wing covers covered with fine hairs. Their antennae are serrated, meaning the segments resemble the teeth of a saw rather than ending in a club.
Cigarette beetles also tend to have a slightly more rounded appearance, but size, color, and body shape can vary enough that this is not always reliable.
Fortunately, determining which of the two species is present usually does not change the basic control recommendations. Finding and eliminating the infested product is far more important than separating two nearly identical brown beetles.
Life Cycle
Drugstore and cigarette beetles undergo complete metamorphosis and develop through four stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult.
Adult females lay tiny eggs directly in or near a suitable food source. The eggs hatch into small, cream colored grubs with brown heads. Cigarette beetle larvae tend to be more heavily covered with hairs, while drugstore beetle larvae are usually less hairy.
The larvae are responsible for nearly all feeding and product damage. Depending on the species, temperature, food quality, and other conditions, development may take several weeks or continue for several months.
When fully developed, the larvae form pupal cells within the infested product or nearby debris. New adults chew their way out, frequently leaving small, round exit holes in the packaging.
Adult cigarette beetles do not feed. Adult drugstore beetles may consume small amounts of food, but most of the damage from both species occurs during the larval stage.
The adults can fly and are attracted to light. Homeowners often first notice them around windows, light fixtures, countertops, or walls rather than directly beside the infested food.
These beetles have one of the broadest diets of any pantry pest.
Commonly infested products include:
- Flour, cornmeal, cereal, and cake mixes
- Pasta, crackers, cookies, and bread products
- Rice and other grains
- Spices, herbs, and dried peppers
- Nuts, seeds, and dried fruit
- Chocolate, cocoa, and candy
- Coffee beans and tea
- Dry pet food and pet treats
- Bird seed, grass seed, and fish food
- Rodent bait
- Tobacco products
Drugstore beetles earned their name because they were historically known to infest pharmaceutical products and medicinal herbs. Cigarette beetles are major pests of stored tobacco, including cigarettes, cigars, and loose tobacco.
Both species can also infest dried flowers, potpourri, decorative seed arrangements, taxidermy materials, insect collections, and other dried plant or animal products. Drugstore beetles have even been reported feeding on books, leather, hair, and materials containing starch based glues.
Because their diet is so broad, the original source may not be located in the kitchen. An old bag of bird seed in the garage, forgotten dog treats in a closet, decorative dried corn, or rodent bait in the attic can produce beetles that appear throughout the house.
Why They are Pests
Drugstore and cigarette beetles do not bite, sting, or feed on the structure of a home. Their importance comes from their ability to infest and contaminate stored products.
Larvae feed within the product and leave behind feces, shed skins, insect fragments, and webbing or debris. Adults may also chew small, round holes through packaging when emerging.
These beetles can infest products that have never been opened. They may enter through tiny gaps in folded cardboard, paper bags, or seams in plastic packaging. Some larvae can also chew through paper, cardboard, foil lined packages, and thin plastic.
A product should not be assumed safe simply because the package appears sealed.
Once adults begin flying, they may be found far from the original source. This often causes homeowners to believe the beetles are coming from windows, vents, drains, baseboards, or the attic. In most cases, the beetles are simply dispersing from an infested product somewhere inside the building.
Drugstore and Cigarette Beetle Prevention and Control
The most important step in controlling either beetle is locating and removing the infested product.
Spraying visible adults may kill a few beetles, but it will not eliminate the eggs, larvae, or pupae developing inside food or another material.
Inspect all susceptible products in the pantry and surrounding cabinets. Look for living beetles, small grubs, shed skins, powdery debris, damaged food, or small round holes in the product or package.
Do not stop after finding one infested item. More than one product may be involved, particularly when food has been stored for a long time or products have spilled onto shelves.
Remember to inspect less obvious sources, including:
- Spices and seasonings used infrequently
- Dry pet food and treats
- Bird seed and wildlife feed
- Decorative dried plants
- Potpourri
- Rodent bait
- Tobacco products
- Old baking supplies
- Food stored in garages, utility rooms, or closets
Infested products should be placed inside a sealed bag and removed from the house.
After removing the source:
- Vacuum shelves, corners, cracks, shelf pin holes, and cabinet edges.
- Remove spilled flour, grain, spices, pet food, and other debris.
- Dispose of the vacuum contents outside.
- Wipe down shelves before replacing food.
- Store susceptible products in tightly sealed glass or heavy plastic containers.
- Inspect food and pet products before placing them into long term storage.
- Avoid keeping old, forgotten dry goods indefinitely.
Questionable products can sometimes be frozen to kill insects developing inside them. However, freezing does not remove feces, shed skins, or other contamination already present. Most inexpensive food products should simply be discarded.
Pheromone traps are available for both cigarette beetles and drugstore beetles. These traps can help monitor activity and confirm that adults are still present, but they will not eliminate an established infestation. They should be used as a monitoring tool rather than the primary control method.
Insecticide applications inside food storage cabinets are rarely the solution. Products must be removed before treating cracks or crevices, and pesticides should never be applied to food, food contact surfaces, or food packaging unless the label specifically permits it.
Finding the source, removing infested products, and thoroughly cleaning the area are what solve the problem.
It is normal to see occasional adult beetles for a short period after the source has been removed. Some may have already completed larval development and formed pupal cells in hidden locations. Continued or increasing activity, however, usually means another infested product has been overlooked.
Professional Drugstore and Cigarette Beetle Control
Drugstore and cigarette beetle infestations can be difficult to solve because the insects feed on so many different products. The source may be a common pantry food, but it may also be pet food, bird seed, spices, rodent bait, dried decorations, or another material stored far from the kitchen.
A professional inspection can help confirm the identification, locate overlooked sources, determine the extent of the infestation, and identify areas where adults are emerging.
If you are dealing with an infestation of drugstore beetles or cigarette beetles, Venus Pest Company can help. Founded by Aggie Entomologist Dr. Scott Lingren, we provide expert, eco-friendly Integrated Pest Management solutions in Bryan and College Station. To get started, fill out the contact form, call/text 979.774.0486 or email [email protected]. Don’t let nuisance pests take over your hom
