Cigarette Beetles

Also known as the tobacco beetle, this pest typically infests stored tobacco leaves, dried cereals, dried fruits, flour, books, and some animal products. The extent of their appetite cannot be emphasized enough–they will eat nearly anything, including a popular pesticide for cockroaches.

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Pest Description

Cigarette Beetle Habits

A widespread pest in the food industry, the cigarette beetle is a small, stout, reddish-yellow beetle. Adult beetles can live up to 4 weeks. Adult females will lay as many as 100 eggs at a time, always within an infested food source.

Cigarette beetles have been known to damage large quantities of stored grain, as well as tobacco. Their main impact on households is their infestation within spices, ginger, raisins, rice, and other dried foods.

Preventing Cigarette Beetles

Although most of their damage is caused in warehouses, cigarette beetles are able to cause damage in homes as well. Most infestations in pantries are caused within the warehouse that the stored goods came from.

The best way to avoid an infestation is to carefully inspect pantry items. Before you purchase an item, check the bag or box for holes, and check the expiration date. Try not to buy large amounts of a food item if you’re not going to use it immediately. Regular pantry cleaning can help prevent an infestation from happening, as you can catch the signs of an insect problem before it grows.

Eliminating Cigarette Beetles

If you manage or own a food processing facility or warehouse, take steps to install monitors and bait stations for these beetles. Cigarette beetles are attracted to UV light, and a pest control professional will be able to install them appropriately.

If these beetles have taken over your home or business pantry, carefully seal all affected items, and remove them. If the infestation is large, it’s best to call professional exterminators. We can give you the best advice for eliminating the current problem, and avoiding future infestations. If your warehouse has been affected, call a professional exterminator immediately.