Appearance:
The Drugstore beetle is brown to reddish-brown in color and is similar to the Cigarette beetle. It is more elongated in shape and their wing covers appear lined. Their antennae have three enlarged segments at the tip.

Size:
Range from 1/10 to 1/8-inch in length.

Behavior:
The drugstore beetle is a common stored-food pest. Females lay eggs in various dry foods that have a life cycle of 2-7 months. Larvae form a small round ball or cell that becomes a cocoon in which it pupates. Adults live for approximately 2 weeks to 2 months depending on temperature and available food sources.

The Drugstore beetle can feed and survive on food and other items of no nutritional content due to internal yeasts they produce. It has been known to bore into books, wooden objects, and even tin or aluminum foil and lead sheets. They cause tremendous damage and economic losses by feeding on post-harvest and stored grains and seeds, packaged food products, and animal and plant-derived items and products.

Habitat:
Drugstore beetles get their name from their habit of feeding on prescription drugs. They may feed on many drugs in the pharmacy, and often feed on poisonous rodent baits containing strychnine. They also infest almonds, peanuts, paprika, red pepper, cornmeal, flour, wheat and wheat bran, wheat germ, dry pet food, bread, birdseed, beans, coffee beans, pastas, powdered milk, etc.

Non-food items such as books, manuscripts, dried flowers, certain fillers and fabric coverings of furniture, wool, and leather may also be damaged by feeding Drugstore beetles.

Damage Caused:
Larval feeding causes the greatest amount of damage, and they sometimes attack museum specimens, the damage and contamination of which can ruin valuable and irreplaceable items.

Control:
The simple and most effective control method is to locate the source of infestation and quickly dispose of it. Examine all food storage areas and food products carefully, and discard heavily infested foods in heavy-duty, sealed plastic bags or in sealed containers.

Remove decorations such as flowers, Christmas trees, wreaths, etc. from the home after they wilt or die.

It is also helpful to examine foods such as flour, cereal, dry pet food, candy, rice, dry pastas, and similar items for possible infestations that may be carried into the home, especially in damaged packages and boxes. Store these items in bags enclosed in tight-fitting containers. Purchase seldom-used foods in small quantities and prevent long storage periods, especially during warmer months. Keep dry foods such as cereal in the refrigerator when possible.

Make sure to keep storage areas clean and avoid spilling grains and dry foods in pantries and cabinets. Use a powerful vacuum to clean any spills or food particles and keep all kitchen and pantry areas well ventilated as Drugstore beetles are attracted to moisture and moisture damaged foods.

Do you live in Florida and think this beetle may be invading your home or business? Floridabugs.com offers specifically designed pest control treatments to regulate and eliminate these pests! FloridaBugs.com – the finest in Florida pest control.