Pest Library
Cigarette Beetle
Cigarette beetles are tiny, rounded, light brown beetles with a distinctly humped profile and a finely hairy body. They fly readily toward lights and windows, which is often how they are noticed, and they infest spices, tobacco, dried botanicals, pet food and a wide range of dry goods.
Profile
- Scientific name
- Lasioderma serricorne
- Identification
- Oval, humpbacked, reddish-brown, with serrated antennae and fine body hairs.
- Typical size
- About 1/10 inch (2-3 mm).
- Behavior
- Active flier, especially in warm conditions and late afternoon.
- Habitat
- Spice cabinets, dry storage, retail shelving, dried flower arrangements and pet food.
- Diet
- Spices, paprika, tobacco, grains, pet food, dried plants and seeds.
- Lifecycle
- Egg to adult in roughly six to ten weeks under warm conditions.
- Why it matters
- Product loss and food-quality concerns; not a disease risk.
- DIY considerations
- Because adults fly, the source is often in a different room than where beetles are seen.
- Professional considerations
- Service uses inspection and pheromone monitoring to locate the source across a building, then treats harborage and verifies with follow-up monitoring.
Signs of activity
- Small round beetles flying to lights or found on windowsills
- Fine powdery residue in spice containers
- Emergence holes in packaging
- Beetles found in dried decorative arrangements
Prevention
- Discard infested spices and dried goods
- Store spices and pet food in airtight hard containers
- Inspect dried floral or botanical decorations, a common overlooked source
- Rotate stock and keep storage cool and dry
Sources
Related information
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