Services > Pest Management > Stored-product Pests > Cigarette Beetle



Latin Name:
Lasioderma serricorne

Appearance:
Adults are light brown, about an inch long and excellent fliers. Have a distinct humpbacked appearance.

Habit:
Most active in early evening hours, unless temperatures are below 65 degrees. Hides in dark areas during the day. Primarily spread by humans through transport of infested goods.

Diet:
Infests stored tobacco, books, flax tow, cottonseed meal, rice, ginger, pepper, paprika, dried fish, seeds, dried plants, crude drugs and pyrethrum powder.

Reproduction:
Female lays about 30 eggs over about three weeks in newly harvested tobacco and other food items. Larvae feed on dried tobacco leaves.

Other:
Most serious pest of stored tobacco.