Drugstore & Cigarette Beetles

General Description
Both the drugstore beetle (Stegobium paniceum) and cigarette beetle (Lasioderma serricorne) are one-eighth of an inch to one-tenth of an inch long, bullet-shaped and brown in color. The cigarette beetle tends to be lighter in color and does not have lines of pits on its wing covers. Both species are capable of flying considerable distances. The larvae of both beetles are less than one-eighth of an inch long and consume a wide variety of foods including flour, meal, breakfast foods, condiments, spices (e.g., pepper, paprika), tobacco and drugs.

General Control
Thorough inspection is necessary to determine the source of grain beetle infestations. Sanitation and proper storage of grain products is necessary to control the beetles. Infested items should be removed. Screening or other physical barriers can help prevent the beetles from flying into the facility. Incoming food items should be inspected for infestation before being stored in the facility. Although detection and elimination of infested product is the key to controlling these and other stored product pests, crack-andcrevice applications of appropriately labeled insecticides are sometimes warranted.