Stegobium paniceum
- 01Head hidden from above. The thorax forms a hood over the head.
- 02Lined wing covers. Rows of tiny pits make the wing covers look striped.
- 03Clubbed antennae. The last three segments are enlarged into a club.
- 04Reddish brown. Uniform brown to reddish brown, finely hairy.
- Size
- 2.25 to 3.5 mm, about 1/10 to 1/7 in
- Look
- Cylindrical oval, head hidden, striped wing covers
- Antennae
- 3-segment club
- Eats
- Flour, dry mixes, spices, pet food, dried flowers, books
- Flies
- Yes, toward windows and lights
Figures: University of Florida, Drugstore Beetle (EENY-228), University of Florida, Cigarette Beetle (EENY-227).
What does a drugstore beetle look like?
A cylindrical oval beetle 2.25 to 3.5 mm long, roughly a tenth to a seventh of an inch, uniform brown to reddish brown and finely hairy. Seen from above, the head is hidden under the hood-like thorax. The wing covers have lengthwise rows of tiny pits that give them a striped look, and the antennae end in a club of three enlarged segments.
What does the larva look like?
A small white grub that curls into a C shape. It lives and feeds inside the product, then pupates there. Adults chew round exit holes on the way out.
Where do they come from?
Infested products from a store or warehouse, or a forgotten item at home: an old spice jar, a bag of dog treats, potpourri, dried flower arrangements or flour spilled behind an appliance.
How Graduate handles drugstore beetles
We identify the beetle, then trace it back to every infested product, checking spice racks, baking supplies, pet food, decor and storage areas. Those items are removed, shelves are vacuumed and clean food is sealed. Traps confirm the result. See stored product pest control for the full comparison.
Which pantry beetle is it?
All three are about 1/10 inch. Look at the antennae, the wing covers and the edges of the thorax. Tap one for its full profile.
- Size
- About 1/10 to 1/7 in
- Look
- Oval, head hidden under the thorax, lined wing covers
- Antennae
- End in a 3-segment club
- Eats
- Flour, spices, dry mixes, pet food, even books
- Size
- About 1/10 to 1/8 in
- Look
- Rounder and humped, head tucked under, smooth wing covers
- Antennae
- Saw-toothed, no club
- Eats
- Spices like paprika, tobacco, dried herbs, pet food
- Size
- About 1/10 in
- Look
- Long, flat, six saw teeth on each side of the thorax
- Antennae
- Short, small club at the tip
- Eats
- Cereal, flour, rice, dried fruit. Cannot break whole kernels
Figures: University of Florida, Drugstore Beetle (EENY-228), University of Florida, Cigarette Beetle (EENY-227), Virginia Cooperative Extension, Sawtoothed Grain Beetle.
Treatment for this pest is covered under Stored Product Pest Control.
Common questions
Why are tiny beetles on my windowsill?
Drugstore beetle adults fly and are drawn to light, so they collect on windows. The source is usually a dry product nearby: flour, a spice, a baking mix, pet food or dried flowers.
Do they bite?
No. They are a nuisance and contaminate food, but they do not bite people or pets.
What do drugstore beetles eat?
An unusually wide range: flour, baking mixes, cereal, spices, dried herbs, dry pet food, dried flowers and even books and leather. Yeasts in their gut let them live on food of low nutritional value.
How do I tell it from a cigarette beetle?
Look at the wing covers and antennae. Drugstore beetles have striped wing covers with rows of pits and antennae ending in a three-segment club. Cigarette beetles have smooth wing covers and saw-toothed antennae.
What are the small round holes in my packages?
Exit holes. Adults chew their way out of the product and its packaging, leaving neat round holes. Finding them points straight at the source.
Will freezing kill them?
Yes. University of Florida guidance is about a week at freezing temperatures or colder for these beetles, longer at refrigerator temperatures. Freeze anything you want to keep, then seal it.
Get in touch
Tell us what you are seeing
Four questions, answered by a person within one business day. If it is urgent, call: the line is answered at any hour.
Stored Product Pest Control
Start with a free consultation
A consultation is a phone call with us about your problem. You tell us what you are seeing, where in the building, and how long it has been going on. We tell you what it most likely is, what is causing it, and what it will take to fix. Most routine work can be priced on that call.
There is no charge and no obligation. If we are not the right fit, we will say so before anyone books a visit.
Call (631) 212-9601Schedule an inspection
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