These pests are expert fliers, attracted to both light and a variety of food sources, like grains, seeds, flour, pet foods, spices, books and manuscripts, leather, wool, hair, and even drugs.įemale drugstore beetles can lay more than 100 eggs at a time, usually depositing them in a suitable food source on which the larvae can feed when they hatch after 10 days. They are also commonly found in flour mills, bakeries, confectioners, distribution centres, food warehouses, retail stores, and homes. Why do I have drugstore beetlesĬommercial sites like cereal and pet food manufacturing facilities provide ideal conditions for drugstore beetles looking for warmth and food. The typical lifespan of an adult drugstore beetle ranges from 14 to 65 days. After pupating for 12 to 18 days, immature drugstore beetles emerge as adults. The newly hatched larvae are cream-coloured grubs shaped like the letter “C” and measure around 5 mm in length. ![]() They are deposited in a suitable food source and typically hatch after about 10 days. The eggs are pearl white and difficult to see. Life Cycle/Reproductionįemale drugstore beetles lay as many as 100 eggs or more at a time. Known to even bore through wooden objects, the pests are capable of penetrating through tin, aluminium foil, and lead sheets, making stored foods virtually unprotected. While they cause the most damage to stored grains, seeds, and flour, the insects maintain a diverse and relatively indiscriminate diet that also includes pet foods, spices, books and manuscripts, leather, wool, hair, and even drugs, hence their common name. Dietĭrugstore beetles eat a variety of different foods. The drugstore beetle is an expert flier and attracted to light, making home invasions both possible and likely. Various commercial sites provide ideal conditions for the pests, including cereal and pet food manufacturing facilities, storage warehouses, and flour mills. Habitat, Diet, Lifecycle/Reproduction HabitatĪlthough they prefer to live in warmer environments outdoors, drugstore beetles can survive just about anywhere heated shelter is available. The stored-food pest measures up to 3.5 mm in length. Drugstore beetles also possess fine hairs running lengthwise along the wing covers. The drugstore beetle possesses a pair of three-segmented club antennae and deep pits on the wing covers, which give the insect a striated appearance. While both types of beetles appear solid brown or reddish-brown in colour, certain distinguishing characteristics help separate the two species. ![]() Cylindrical in shape, the drugstore beetle is sometimes confused with the closely related and similar-looking cigarette beetle.
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