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University
of Rhode Island GreenShare Factsheets
Cigarette
Beetle Lasioderma
serricorne F.
Coleoptera: Anobiidae
The
cigarette beetle feeds on a variety of stored products such as paprika,
chili, and dried dog food. Both adults and larvae are capable of
readily penetrating many types of packaging material These destructive
pests can feed on pyrethrum powder strong enough to kill cockroaches.
Adults are strong fliers and are attracted to light at night. Adult
beetles flying around lights at night are often the first indication
of their presence. The cigarette beetle is native to Egypt. In fact,
a beetle was found in King Tutankhamen's tomb! In the 3,500 years
since then the beetle has hardly changed. The
adult cigarette beetle is a small, red-brown to yellowish-brown
beetle. When viewed from above it appears oval, and in profile humpbacked
in shape (the head and pronotum are bent forward). It is 3 to 4
mm (1/10 to 1/8 inch) long. The antennae are serrate (the side edge
of each antennal segment is pointed like a saw tooth). The wing
coverings (elytra) are smooth without longitudinal grooves. They
are strong fliers and attracted to light at night such as a lamp
or TV set. It can be found throughout the year, but seems to be
more common in the fall and winter months. The eggs are white, oval
and too small to be easily seen with the naked eye. The larvae are
white and grub-like; long hairs cover the bodies of the larvae and
give them a fuzzy appearance. When full grown they are about 4 mm
(1/8 inch) long. Larvae spin themselves into a cocoon prior to becoming
pupae.
Both adults and larvae are capable of readily penetrating many types
of packaging material. Adults lay their eggs on the food material
the larvae are to feed on. Adults live two to four weeks. Females
lay up to 100 eggs; the development time from egg to adult is six
to eight weeks. There are three to six generations/year. The minimum
development temperature is 65 degrees F. Cigarette
beetles will infest a wide variety of food products: Plant
material - Aniseed, bamboo, beans, biscuits, cassava, chickpeas,
cigars, cigarettes, cocoa beans, coffee beans, copra, coriander,
cottonseed (before and after harvest), cottonseed meal, cumin, dates,
dogfood, dried banana, dried cabbage, dried carrot, dried fruits,
drugs, flax tow, flour, ginger, grain, herbs, herbarium specimens,
insecticides containing pyrethrum, juniper seed, licorice root,
paprika, peanuts, rhubarb, rice, seeds of various trees and plants,
spices, and yeast. Other
food materials include dried insects, dried fish, fishmeal, and
meatmeal. The cigarette beetle has also been recorded attacking
leather, furniture stuffing, and bookbinders paste. It has also
done incidental damage to cloth upholstery and paper books. The
cigarette beetle can be controlled without the use of pesticides.
The first step in control of the cigarette beetle is to find
the
source of the infestation. This means inspecting all of the dried
foods in the infested cabinets or drawers. Once the infested
material
is found, it should be destroyed. Clean all the cabinets and drawers
with a vacuum cleaner (then throw the cleaner bag away). It
is important
that susceptible food material be stored so that adults and larvae
may not have access to it. Glass jars and plastic containers
with
air tight covers effectively keep food insect-free. Infestations
observed on food stored in either type of storage container
are
trapped and unable to spread to other food items. Susceptible food
items need to be tightly contained or stored in the refrigerator
or freezer, or be consumed within two to three weeks of purchase.
Infestations of dried flowers may be "fumigated" by placing
a small amount of moth crystals and the flowers in a plastic
bag for a day
or two.
Adapted
from the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station and the Virginia
Cooperative Extension, 1999.
Pesticides
are poisonous! Read and follow all safety precautions on labels.
Handle carefully and store in original containers out of reach
of children, pets or livestock. Dispose of empty containers
immediately, in a safe manner and place. Pesticides should never
be stored with foods or in areas where people eat.
When trade names are used for identification, no product endorsement
is implied, nor is discrimination intended against similar materials.
Be sure that the pesticide you intend to use is registered for
the state of use.
The user of this information assumes all risk for personal injury
or property damage.
For more
information, call the URI CE Gardening and Food Safety Hotline
at 1-800-448-1011 or (401)874-2929 from outside Rhode Island;
Monday-Thursday between 9 am and 2 pm.
University
of Rhode Island Cooperative Extension provides equal program
opportunities.
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