What is the difference between cigarette beetle and drugstore beetle?
What is the difference between cigarette beetle and drugstore beetle?
Drugstore beetles are similar in appearance to the cigarette beetle; however, two physical characters can be used to tell the difference between them. The antennae of the cigarette beetle are serrated (like the teeth on a saw) while the antennae of the drugstore beetle are not and end in a 3-segmented club.
What should you look at to help you identify a cigarette beetle from a drugstore beetle?
To distinguish between the two species, you will need to look closely at the antennae. The drugstore beetle has a distinct three-segmented antennal club, while the cigarette beetle does not have a distinct club. The larvae are about 1/6 inch long when full-grown, whitish in color, with the head dark brown or tan.
What do drugstore beetles infest?
The drugstore beetle and the closely related cigarette beetle are small reddish-brown beetles that infest grains, pet food, straw flowers, tea, old rodent bait, red pepper, flour, spices, leather, animal hair, tobacco and other dried plant material.
Why are there drugstore beetles in my bed?
They are attracted to light. That is why drugstore beetles are seen in bathroom, living room, bedroom and office, away from where the food sources are. Adult beetles leave the food to seek mates and explore new food sources.
Where do drugstore beetles lay eggs?
Female drugstore beetles lay single eggs in areas where they feed. Once eggs hatch they become larvae and feed on nearby food sources. The female can lay more than 100 eggs over a single lifetime.
How do I get rid of Cigarette Beetles?
The best method of controlling Cigarette Beetle infestations in your pantry is discarding all your stored dried food products, performing a deep cleaning, then applying Pyrid Aerosol and Flex 10-10 Insecticide to kill adult Cigarette Beetles that survive cleanup.
Why do I have cigarette beetles?
A cigarette beetle can enter a home through gaps under doorways, open windows, cracks in the foundation and may be brought inside with infested products. Places with dark crevices allow them to remain unseen and they often live and develop in foods that are well hidden and rarely opened to inspect for damage.
How do you get rid of a cigarette beetle infestation?