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Tobacco Beetle, Lasioderma serricorne
Both the cigarette and drugstore beetle belong to a family of wood-boring beetles known as Anobiidae and can be confused with species that infest items made of wood. If a beetle is found in association with food products, it is likely the cigarette or drugstore beetle. If not, you may want to have a professional examine the beetles to obtain a positive identification.
The female cigarette beetle lays 30-40 eggs over a period of weeks in a stored tobacco or dried food product. The eggs hatch within six to 10 days and the larvae begin crawling throughout the food source while feeding. The larvae prefer the dark and take about 5 to 10 weeks before pupating. The entire life cycle takes up to 90 days to complete with up to six overlapping generations occurring each year in warm climates. This shorter life cycle permits a faster development of cigarette beetle populations, facilitating the spread of cigarette beetles to uninfested food products stored nearby.
This beetle is an external feeder, meaning the larvae develop outside of whole seeds. It is most commonly associated with processed foods of all kinds. Adult beetles are strong fliers most commonly seen in low light conditions. This beetle can be found throughout the year, but is especially common during the fall and winter.
As its name implies, the cigarette beetle is a pest of dried tobacco in tobacco warehouses and processing facilities. Interestingly, this beetle is not commonly found infesting stored cigarettes or cigars in stores or homes. It will infest a wide variety of food products and is common in pet food, cereals, nuts, dried peppers, spices, raisins, seeds and dried straw flours. Cigarette beetle larvae have also been found to feed on the stuffing inside upholstered furniture. The cigarette beetle is also a major pest in museums, where it attacks botany displays and other artifacts of vegetative origin.
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