Drugstore beetles, often referred to as a bread beetle or biscuit beetle, are unique household pests due to their way of introduction to a home. Drugstore beetles very rarely enter your home on purpose or of their own volition. Rather, they are brought into the home by unsuspecting homeowners. Because of their hitchhiking travel tendencies, drugstore beetles can be nearly impossible to prevent. And yet the question remains – why are there drugstore beetles in my house?
The drugstore beetle is a fairly common insect of the Anobiinae subfamily that is known to infest dried plant products. Interestingly, it is the only surviving member of the Stegobium genus. Tiny and brown in appearance, the drugstore beetle is often mistaken for the cigarette beetle but can be distinguished by its larger size and segmented antennae. Additionally, the drugstore beetle has parallel grooves along its forewings, while the cigarette beetle is smooth-backed.
Drugstore beetles can be found worldwide, though they tend to be more common in areas with a warmer climate. As their name would suggest, drugstore beetles are drawn to a number of pharmacological products, as well as dried food and spices, hair, leather, books, and pet food. They are often referred to as bread or biscuit beetles due to their ability to survive purely on crumbs of baked goods.
While adult drugstore beetles can certainly wreak havoc on a homeowner’s dried food stock, it is often the immature beetles and larvae that cause the most damage. A female drugstore beetle can lay up to 100 eggs at once. The larvae are small white grubs that are difficult to see to the naked eye, measuring about 5mm on average. The ravenous larvae will feed on anything readily available to them in an effort to grow quickly. After roughly a month, adult drugstore beetles have emerged with a typical lifespan of up to 65 days.
The trickiest part of drugstore beetles is that there’s nothing a homeowner does “wrong” to result in a drugstore beetle infestation. Additionally, there is very little one can do to prevent the beetles from entering the home. This is because drugstore beetles are often accidentally brought into the home during regular trips to the grocery store or pharmacy. Due to the beetle’s diet of choice, drugstore beetles are often hidden away in bags of flour, sweets, or spices. Some commonly infested items include cereal, rice, oats, bread, pasta, barley, cookies, chocolate, seasonings, pet food, bird seed, and even grass seed.
Once in the home, drugstore beetles swiftly reproduce and infest other items in the home, sometimes ruining entire pantries of food. Larvae and adults alike will contaminate food as they bore, eat, and excrete waste in the food they’ve infested. Unfortunately, drugstore beetle infestations can be incredibly difficult to combat as they eat almost anything, need very little water, and can survive weeks without food. In addition, it can be tough to identify a drugstore beetle problem before it becomes an infestation, especially if you’re not actively looking for it.
Identifying a drugstore beetle infestation may not be as simple as one would think. Because drugstore beetles have an undiscerning diet, they are prone to infesting several areas of the home, including the kitchen, basement, garage, and bathroom. This means there is no single place you need to look when attempting to confirm an infestation. Infestations can also spread from one area of the home to another due to the beetle’s ability to fly. Luckily, there are some signs to look out for that may indicate you have a drugstore beetle infestation in your home.
If you suspect you may have drugstore beetles in your home, it is highly recommended that you throw out any potentially contaminated food right away. Thoroughly inspect infested areas with a flashlight and check for indicators of their presence. Store food items that you and your family eat in airtight containers that are made of plastic, metal, glass, or ceramic to ensure drugstore beetles cannot contaminate them. Be sure to vacuum out shelves or other storage areas where the beetles have infested to ensure any larvae are removed that may not be visible to the naked eye.
It is highly recommended that you seek the help of a trusted pest professional to ensure your home is clear of drugstore beetles. Because they can contaminate the human food supply, it is crucial that you don’t put yourself or your family in danger by consuming potentially contaminated food. Professional pest providers can also help safeguard your home against future infestations by providing tips and products that can make your home less hospitable to drugstore beetles.
Yes! While drugstore beetle removal can be provided by EcoShield for extreme infestations, our Shield Home Protection Plan offers four-season protection against a variety of pests. The 3-step service provides customers with an initial thorough inspection, regular egg cycle disruption and treatment, along with continued maintenance to ensure your home is safeguarded against both seasonal and year-round pests. If you’re experiencing pest problems, whether it be drugstore beetles, mice, or stinging insects, give EcoShield a call and take the first step toward pest-free living. Call (888) 744-1284 or fill out the form on this page to schedule your free no obligation inspection!