Drugstore Beetles

What do drugstore beetles look like?

Drugstore beetles are red-brown to brown and adults grow to be about 1/16 to 1/8 of an inch in length. They have unique pits on their hard wing covers that are arranged in rows giving the wing covers a striated appearance. Their heads and front portions of their thoraxes are bent at a downward angle. Because of this, their heads are not very visible, and they have a humpbacked appearance. Drugstore beetles also have smooth antennae that end in a 3-segmented club. Their larvae are white, c-shaped, grow to about 1/8 of an inch in length, have short hairs covering their bodies, and six small legs.

Where are drugstore beetles found?

Drugstore beetles are a type of stored product pest, which means that they are found feeding and breeding inside of a wide variety of dried food products. They are usually found invading food processing facilities, grocery stores, restaurants, and home pantries and kitchens in the Quad Cities. Drugstore beetles are typically introduced into a homes through products that were purchased at a store that were already infested. Adults are attracted to light, and may enter homes through gaps around windows and doors while they are foraging for food sources.

What do drugstore beetles eat?

Drugstore beetle adults lay their eggs on a food source. When the larvae hatch, they will begin to feed. They are most often found feeding on and contaminating food sources like bread, flour, cereals, dry spices, dry pet food, herbs, drugs, hair, leather, and dead insects.

DIY drugstore beetle prevention and control tips

There are several steps that you can take to help prevent a drugstore beetle infestation from occurring in your home. One of the best things that you can do to stop an infestation is to thoroughly check the packaging of food that you are purchasing. Any items that have tears or holes in them should be left on the shelf. Food that is being stored in kitchen and pantry areas should be regularly checked, and older or expired items should be discarded. It is also helpful to remove dry goods from their original packaging and place them inside glass or plastic containers with tight-fitting lids.

Professional drugstore beetle control

For a professional solution to your pest problem, contact Quik-Kill Pest Eliminators. Our team has the experience and tools necessary to eliminate drugstore beetles and other pests from your home or business.