About Drugstore Beetles (Stegobium paniceum)

Activity: Persistent Pantry Pests

Drugstore beetles are small, brown insects notorious for infesting stored food products and dried goods. Active year-round indoors, they thrive in warm, humid environments, making kitchens, pantries, and storage areas prime targets. These beetles can fly, allowing them to spread quickly to new food sources and areas of your home. Though small, they are persistent, and infestations can escalate rapidly if left unchecked.

Diet: What Drugstore Beetles Eat & Why It Matters

True to their name, drugstore beetles have been found infesting herbal medicines and dried pharmaceuticals, but their diet is incredibly diverse. They feed on:

• Flour, cereals, pasta, spices, dried herbs

• Pet food, birdseed, and tobacco products

• Books, leather, wool, and even dried flowers
  They can chew through paper, cardboard, and foil packaging, contaminating food supplies and causing significant waste.

Size: Small But Widespread

• Adults are 2 to 3.5 mm long, oval-shaped, and reddish-brown

• Often confused with cigarette beetles, but with distinct grooves on their wing covers
  Despite their small size, infestations can involve hundreds or thousands of beetles, requiring thorough treatment to eliminate.

Nesting Habits: Where Drugstore Beetles Live

Drugstore beetles nest and breed in dry, starchy food products.

• Eggs are laid inside or near food sources

• Larvae tunnel through the food as they develop

• Adults emerge, often flying to find new locations
  Infestations are most common in improperly sealed dry goods or neglected storage areas.

Why Professional Treatment Is Crucial

Drugstore beetles are resilient and can infest multiple areas of a home or business. Simply discarding infested items is often not enough. Professional pest control ensures:

• Identification of all infested products

• Comprehensive cleaning and sanitization

• Targeted treatments to eliminate larvae and adults

• Preventive measures to stop re-infestation
  Without expert intervention, infestations can quickly recur, contaminating new food supplies.

Signs of a Drugstore Beetle Infestation

Be on the lookout for these indicators:

• Small beetles crawling or flying near pantries and food storage areas

• Tiny holes in packaging materials (paper, cardboard, foil)

• Powdery debris or frass in cupboards or food containers

• Contaminated food products with larvae or adult beetles present

• Clusters of beetles around light sources (adults are attracted to light)

Understanding the Problem: Drugstore Beetle Infestations

A single overlooked package can reignite an infestation.

• Larvae are the primary source of damage, but adult beetles facilitate rapid spread

• Infestations can also occur in non-food materials like books and dried herbs
  Over-the-counter sprays provide only temporary relief and fail to eliminate eggs and larvae within products.

Our Professional Approach to Drugstore Beetle Control

 Detailed Inspection

Locating all infested products and assessing spread.

 Sanitation & Exclusion

Guided cleaning, disposal of contaminated goods, and sealing of vulnerable packaging.

 Targeted Treatments

Safe, effective methods targeting both adults and larvae.

 Long-Term Prevention

Moisture control, storage best practices, and ongoing monitoring to prevent recurrence.