Drugstore and Cigarette Beetles
Ethan Estabrook, BCE - Research Associate, Insects Limited
Drugstore (Stegobium paniceum) and cigarette beetles (Lasioderma serricorne) cause serious damage to stored products.
Larvae can chew and burrow holes into some food packaging causing product defects. The larvae also damage products through feeding and introduce contaminants like larval cocoons, frass (excrement), and dead adult beetles.
Drugstore beetles and cigarette beetles carry a symbiotic yeast in their guts that assists them in the digestion of less nutritious foods and can provide resistance to certain toxins.
This symbiotic relationship allows these beetles to feed on a wide range of materials including dried foods, grains, seeds, pharmaceuticals, spices, hay, dried fruit, powdered milk, nuts, animal feed, pet food, and many other organic materials.
Cigarette beetles get their name from their ability to feed on tobacco which is toxic to most insects.
Both can also be a serious pest to museum specimens and have been reported feeding on books, leather, feathers, bamboo, manuscripts, upholstery, and wool.
Click to watch a time-lapse GIF of drugstore beetle (Stegobium paniceum) damage to dog treats over 6 months. 100 adult drugstore beetles were introduced and maintained at 82°F (28°C) and 50% relative humidity. You can see how quickly these insects can cause major damage to stored products over time.
Dorsal views of a cigarette beetle (Lasioderma serricorne) and a drugstore beetle (Stegobium paniceum).
Drugstore and Cigarette Beetle Differences and Similarities
Notice the two main physical distinguishing characteristics from the drugstore beetle and cigarette beetle images above. Drugstore beetles have three largely clubbed antennae segments and deeper longitudinal rows of pits on the elytra (wing covers) while cigarette beetles have smaller, more numerous, serrated antennae segments and smooth elytra (wing covers).
Although the drugstore and cigarette beetles look very similar, they are distantly related and require different monitoring practices as they do not share the same sex pheromone. Both of these beetles are in the family Pitinidae which include anobiid beetles that are more commonly known as “woodworm” or “wood borers.” The furniture beetle (Anobium puncatatum) is a commonly found insect in this family and is known to damage wooden furniture and house structures.
Drugstore and Cigarette Beetle Pheromone Solutions
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Insects Limited, Inc. researches, tests, develops, manufactures and distributes pheromones and trapping systems for insects in a global marketplace. The highly qualified staff also can assist with consultation, areas of expert witness, training presentations and grant writing.
Insects Limited, Inc. specializes in a unique niche of pest control that provides mainstream products and services to protect stored food, grain, museum collections, tobacco, timber and fiber worldwide. Please take some time to view these products and services in our web store.
