How to Get Rid of Drugstore Beetles: A Comprehensive Guide

Drugstore beetles, also known as biscuit beetles or bread beetles (Stegobium paniceum), are small, reddish-brown pests that can wreak havoc in your pantry and beyond. These tiny insects are notorious for their ability to infest a wide range of dried goods, from flour and spices to pet food and even books. While they aren’t harmful to humans, their presence can be incredibly frustrating and lead to the loss of stored food items. Fortunately, with a systematic approach, you can effectively eliminate drugstore beetles from your home. This comprehensive guide will walk you through the identification, prevention, and extermination of these pesky invaders.

Understanding Drugstore Beetles

Before tackling the problem, it’s essential to understand the life cycle and habits of drugstore beetles. Here’s a breakdown:

• Appearance: Adult drugstore beetles are small, oval-shaped, and range in color from light brown to reddish-brown. They are about 2.25 to 3.5 mm long, about the size of a sesame seed. Their bodies are covered in fine hairs, and they have distinct longitudinal ridges on their wing covers (elytra). They have club-shaped antennae, which is a distinguishing characteristic.
• Larvae: The larvae are small, creamy-white, C-shaped grubs with brown heads. They are the most destructive stage of the beetle’s life, as they are the ones that consume the food sources.
• Life Cycle: The drugstore beetle undergoes complete metamorphosis (egg, larva, pupa, adult). The entire life cycle can take anywhere from 2 to 7 months, depending on temperature and humidity. The warmer the environment, the faster the development. Adult females can lay up to 100 eggs in their lifetime.
• Diet: These beetles aren’t picky eaters. They feed on a wide array of dried goods, including flour, cereals, spices, pasta, bread, pet food, dried herbs, seeds, nuts, and even non-food items like dried plants, book bindings, and museum specimens. They have the capability to digest almost anything including products that would otherwise be considered inedible.
• Habitat: Drugstore beetles thrive in pantries, kitchens, food storage areas, libraries, museums, warehouses and sometimes even inside of furniture. They like areas where their food source is located or nearby and warm and humid environments.
• How They Get In: Drugstore beetles can enter your home through infested food items you bring from the grocery store or from open windows. They can also move from one house to another in shared walls or apartments through small openings.

Identifying an Infestation

The early signs of a drugstore beetle infestation can be subtle, but vigilance can help you catch it before it becomes a major problem. Look for these common indicators:

• Adult Beetles: Spotting adult beetles crawling on countertops, shelves, or near stored food is a clear indication. They can often be seen near light sources.
• Larvae: Finding tiny, creamy-white grubs in or around food products.
• Holes and Tunnels: Check your food packages for tiny holes or tunnels. These are made by larvae as they chew through packaging to access food and pupate.
• Frass: Look for fine, powdery frass (insect droppings) around infested items. This looks like a fine, light colored dust.
• Damaged Food: Examine your dried goods for signs of feeding or damage. This can include small holes in packaging or food that seems to be deteriorating.

Step-by-Step Guide to Getting Rid of Drugstore Beetles

Eradicating drugstore beetles requires a multi-pronged approach. Here’s a detailed step-by-step guide:

1. Initial Inspection and Source Identification

The first and most crucial step is to identify the source of the infestation. This involves a thorough inspection of your pantry and other areas where you store dried goods:

1. Empty the Pantry: Remove all food items from your pantry shelves. Take out everything, even unopened packages.
2. Inspect Each Item: Carefully examine each package for signs of infestation (holes, frass, webbing, larvae, or adult beetles). Pay special attention to older items, opened packages, and items that are not stored in airtight containers. Check flours, spices, grains, pasta, pet food, dried herbs, nuts, seeds, and cereals.
3. Check Non-Food Items: Don’t forget to inspect non-food items that drugstore beetles may infest, such as dried flower arrangements, potpourri, book bindings, old books, and even things like dried pet treats.
4. Locate the Source: The item with the most noticeable signs of infestation is likely the primary source. Once you have found an item that is heavily infested, be sure to check any food items that were nearby.

2. Disposal of Infested Items

Once you’ve identified the infested items, it’s time to get rid of them. This is crucial to prevent the infestation from spreading:

1. Seal Infested Items: Place infested items in sealed plastic bags or garbage bags. This will prevent beetles from escaping and spreading to other areas.
2. Dispose Properly: Dispose of the sealed bags in an outside trash can immediately. Do not leave infested items in your house trash can.

3. Thorough Cleaning of Infested Areas

Once the infested items are removed, a thorough cleaning of the pantry and surrounding areas is essential:

1. Vacuum Thoroughly: Use a vacuum cleaner with a hose attachment to clean all shelves, walls, corners, and crevices. Pay close attention to areas where food debris may have accumulated. Ensure you are also vacuuming around the edges of the pantry and any other areas that may contain eggs or larvae.
2. Empty the Vacuum: After vacuuming, empty the contents of the vacuum cleaner into a sealed bag and dispose of it outdoors immediately. This will prevent any beetles or eggs from escaping.
3. Wash Shelves and Surfaces: Use hot, soapy water to wash down all shelves, walls, and surfaces. Pay close attention to cracks and crevices where beetles may hide. A diluted solution of vinegar can also be effective and acts as a natural disinfectant.
4. Disinfect: After washing, spray all surfaces with a diluted solution of bleach or a commercial disinfectant. Make sure to allow the surfaces to air dry completely.

4. Freezing Suspected Items

If you suspect that some items may be infested but haven’t shown visible signs, you can freeze them to kill any eggs or larvae:

1. Seal in Freezer Bags: Place the suspected items in airtight freezer bags to prevent freezer burn and to isolate them from other food.
2. Freeze for Several Days: Place the sealed bags in the freezer for at least 3 to 7 days. Ensure the freezer is set at 0°F (-18°C) or colder. This will kill all life stages of the drugstore beetle.
3. Check After Freezing: After freezing, take the bags out of the freezer and let them return to room temperature and check the packaging for any signs of damage. If no damage is found, it is safe to place them back in your pantry.

5. Heat Treatment

Another option is to use heat to kill drugstore beetles. This method is ideal for items that can withstand moderate heat:

1. Oven Heating: If items such as dried grains, herbs, or spices can be placed on baking sheets and heated, the beetles will not survive. Place the food on a baking tray and bake at 120 -130 F (50-55 C) for at least one hour.
2. Sunlight Heating: Placing items in clear sealed plastic bags in direct sunlight for several hours on a hot day (over 120°F) can also be an effective solution. Make sure the product is completely covered in the sun, and flip it over periodically to ensure even heating.

6. Monitoring and Prevention

After eliminating the infestation, ongoing monitoring and prevention are crucial to ensure drugstore beetles don’t return:

1. Pheromone Traps: Place drugstore beetle pheromone traps in your pantry or other problem areas. These traps use a specific pheromone to attract male drugstore beetles and can help monitor populations, identifying if there are any remaining beetles or if another infestation occurs later.
2. Airtight Containers: Store all dried goods in airtight containers made of glass, metal, or sturdy plastic. This will prevent beetles from accessing your food and protect your food if an infestation occurs from other sources.
3. FIFO (First In, First Out): Use the First In, First Out (FIFO) method for food storage. Use older items first to prevent them from sitting on the shelf for too long.
4. Regular Cleaning: Clean your pantry regularly to remove food debris and spilled ingredients. This will eliminate potential food sources for beetles.
5. Check Newly Purchased Items: Inspect new food items for signs of infestation before bringing them into your pantry. Look for small holes, frass, or webbing.
6. Seal Cracks and Crevices: Seal any cracks or crevices in your pantry, windows, doors and walls to prevent beetles from entering from outside or moving between rooms. Use caulk to seal cracks.
7. Proper Ventilation: Ensure proper ventilation in your pantry area to prevent moisture buildup. Drugstore beetles thrive in damp and humid environments. Consider running a dehumidifier or using a fan in your pantry.
8. Use Bay Leaves: Place dried bay leaves in your pantry. While this isn’t a guaranteed method for repelling drugstore beetles, some suggest it can deter them as they are not attracted to the smell of bay leaves.

When to Seek Professional Help

If you’ve tried these methods and are still experiencing an infestation, it might be time to call a professional pest control service. Professional exterminators have access to more powerful tools and insecticides that can effectively eradicate stubborn infestations. They can also pinpoint hard-to-reach areas that you might have missed.

Insecticide Options (Use with Caution)

While you should aim to avoid using harsh chemicals, sometimes insecticides may be necessary for severe infestations. If using these types of treatments, be sure to exercise extreme caution and be sure to read all instructions before applying. Below are some insecticide options you may choose to use, if other methods fail:

• Pyrethrins: These are natural insecticides derived from chrysanthemums. They are relatively safe for humans but can be toxic to insects. Pyrethrins are best used as space sprays rather than surface sprays.
• Diatomaceous Earth (DE): Food-grade diatomaceous earth is a natural powder that can be effective against many insects, including drugstore beetles. Sprinkle a thin layer of DE in cracks and crevices, and around pantry shelves. DE damages the exoskeleton of insects, causing them to dehydrate and die. However, DE is not effective against drugstore beetle eggs, so it must be reapplied regularly.
• Residual Sprays: Some insecticides are available as sprays that can be applied to baseboards, cracks and crevices. These sprays usually have a longer residual life but use synthetic chemicals and should be used with extreme caution. Only use sprays that are specifically designed for this type of application.
• Foggers: Insecticidal foggers can be used to release a cloud of insecticide into the air and penetrate hard-to-reach places. However, foggers have limited effectiveness because they do not penetrate the product and do not leave a residual layer.
• Bait Stations: Some bait stations contain insect-attracting pheromones and poisonous bait. These can be effective in controlling drugstore beetle infestations. However, bait stations should be placed in areas that are inaccessible to children and pets.

Important Note: Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions when using any insecticide. Store insecticides in a safe place, away from children and pets. Do not spray insecticides directly onto food or food preparation surfaces. Be sure to read all labels before use and use with caution.

Conclusion

Getting rid of drugstore beetles can be a time-consuming process, but with a systematic approach, you can effectively eliminate these pests from your home. By understanding their habits, identifying the source of the infestation, and implementing the steps outlined in this guide, you can reclaim your pantry and prevent future infestations. Remember to be patient and persistent, and don’t hesitate to seek professional help if necessary. By taking a proactive approach, you can keep these unwanted house guests out of your food and your home.