Insect of the Month: Cigarette Beetle (Lasioderma serricorne)
Packages and food products infested with cigarette beetles usually have shot holes where adults have emerged from pupation. Adults and larvae cause damage. Adults are excellent fliers and are attracted to lights.
These beetles are commonly found in tobacco and other processed foods such as spices, flour, meal, and dog food, but can also attack horn, wool, hair, hide, pharmaceuticals and even book bindings. It is a common household pest.
What do cigarette beetles look like?
Adults: Light brown, 2-3 mm (0.09 inches) long. The elytra (hardened wing covers) are smooth and not striated (rows of pits). The antennal segments are finely serrated (toothed) to the tips.
Eggs: Not readily visible without magnification. Eggs are slightly oval in shape, whitish in color, satin to glossy sheen, and approximately 0.2-0.5 mm (0.019 inches) long.
Larvae: Creamy white, C- shaped, very hairy, with a large distinct head, and three pairs of thoracic legs.
Pupae: Pupal cases are whitish; pupal chambers are created within food material.
What is the cigarette beetle life cycle?
The female beetle will lay up to 100 eggs during a 2-4-week life span. Larvae will tunnel through the food product for about 4-5 weeks. The average life cycle will take 6-8 weeks depending on humidity and temperature. Cigarette beetles are excellent flyers and are most active in the late afternoons. It can only survive in warm buildings in temperate regions.
Solutions for Cigarette Beetles
Monitoring Guidelines for Cigarette Beetle (Lasioderma serricorne)
Click on the image or insect name above to view monitoring guidelines for cigarette beetles. These guideline include details on Description, Lifecycle, Damage and Detection, Corresponding Products, Fun Facts, and more!
Stay tuned
Next week we are going to be sharing a solution Insects Limited offers when dealing with cigarette beetles.
Related Insect and Pheromone Posts
Read more about insects and pheromones in these related posts:
Product of the Month: GreenWay Fruit and Phorid Fly Kit (12 bottles) (IL-1520)
Insect of the Month: Phorid Fly (Flies of the family Phoridae)
The Grey Silverfish: An existing pest in North America and a spreading problem in Europe
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