(Stegobium paniceum)

The Drugstore Beetle is a small beetle that belongs to the family Ptinidae. It is a common pest of stored products, infesting a variety of dried plant materials, including food, spices, and pharmaceutical products.

Larval Feeding: The larvae of Drugstore Beetles are voracious feeders, causing damage by tunneling into the inner portions of stored products.
Flight Capability: Adult beetles are capable of flight, allowing them to disperse and infest new areas.
Control:
Control measures for Drugstore Beetles involve maintaining proper storage conditions, including temperature and humidity control. Regular inspection and monitoring of stored products are crucial for early detection. Integrated pest management strategies may include the use of insect-proof storage containers, sanitation practices, and, if necessary, the application of insecticides or fumigation.

Given their ability to infest stored products and cause economic losses, effective management of Drugstore Beetle infestations requires a proactive approach to storage hygiene and pest control.

Overview

Biology

Appearance: Adult Drugstore Beetles are small, measuring about 2 to 3 millimeters in length. They have an elongated and cylindrical body, usually reddish-brown in color. The body is covered in fine hairs, giving it a slightly fuzzy appearance.

Food

Life Cycle: The life cycle of the Drugstore Beetle includes egg, larva, pupa, and adult stages. Female beetles lay eggs on or near stored products, and the emerging larvae feed on the products, creating tunnels. The pupal stage occurs within the infested materials, and adult beetles emerge to continue the life cycle.
Reproduction: Drugstore Beetles reproduce rapidly, and the development from egg to adult can be completed in a few weeks, depending on environmental conditions such as temperature and humidity.

Drugstore Beetles are commonly found in stored products, especially in facilities where dried plant materials are stored. They infest a variety of products, including grains, flour, cereals, spices, dried herbs, drugs, and even some museum collections containing organic materials.

Description

The primary food source for Drugstore Beetles is dried plant materials. They are known to infest a wide range of stored products, causing damage by consuming the products and creating tunnels. Drugstore Beetles can infest pantry items, spices, grains, flour, and pharmaceutical products.