Biscuit Beetle                               Cigarette Beetle

To illustrate how sharply the head is bent down

Some Biology:

Female cigarette beetles lay about 30 eggs in a period of 3 weeks. Eggs hatch in 6 to 10 days. The larval stage lasts from 5 to 10 weeks with larvae shunning light. The pupal and prepupal periods last 2 to 3 weeks and are passed in a cell. The life cycle lasts from 70 to 90 days, and there may be 5 to 6 overlapping generations per year in warm localities with only one generation in the more temperate regions. Adults are strong flyers and active in subdued light at temperatures above 65°F. Adult beetles may live from 23 to 28 days. In temperate climates, beetles begin swarming in May and again in August. Overwintering may be passed in the larval stage, with some adults not too resistant to cold hibernating in crevices. In warehouses, the life cycle may be completed in 52 days.

Preferred Habitat:

Cigarette beetles commonly infest dried tobacco and tobacco products - hence their name. They also infest raisins, figs, dates, ginger, pepper, nutmeg, chili powder, curry powder, cayenne pepper, paprika, yeast, drugs, legume seeds, barley, cornmeal, flour, soybean meal, sunflower meal, wheat, wheat bran, rice meal, beans, cereals, fish meal, peanuts, dry yeast, dried flowers, leather, woolen cloth, and bamboo. They also may damage the leaves and bindings of books when feeding on the paste, or overstuffed furniture when infesting the straw, hair, etc.

Looks like the tobacco beetle got there first..!

Referral back to the biscuit beetle page will enable a comparison between the three types of beetle.

Control:
Control of this pantry pest begins with the location of the infested food. A thorough clean up, using a vacuum cleaner to get into the cracks and crevices, will control this pest. Also be aware that if there are any bread items which have been varnished and used for display purposes in the kitchen, that these will be an ideal harbourage area.

Again in an industrial situation, things should not have got to the point where there is a problem, vigilance at all times, and scrupulous housekeeping is the only way to maintain a pest free environment.

Controlling An Outbreak

Once cigars have been brought home, consumers should inspect their humidors every few days, especially if they live in a hot or humid climate, or purchase cigars more than once a week.

If beetles are in a desktop humidor, it's hard not to tell. Look for bugs flying up when the humidor's top is opened, or for a pinhole-sized circle in your cigar. If you see a beetle, don't panic; the cigars are salvageable.

Even though manufacturers and retailers take precautions against beetles, it's not impossible for a few to sneak through into your cigars, or for you to pick up a few beetles that fly over from the kitchen cupboard or pet food container. In a recent poll taken on this site, 28 percent of respondents reported they had experienced a beetle infestation. Fortunately, 72 percent of those who had suffered an infestation were able to salvage their cigars. While horror stories of massive infestations in desktop humidors exist, most beetle problems in the home are moderate and manageable.

If you see signs of damage, take immediate action. Put all the cigars from an infected humidor in a zipped plastic bag and place them in your freezer for three days. If the cigars are still in their box, put the whole box into the freezer. Treat all of your cigars, because if you have one damaged cigar, you have to assume they're all at risk. Freezing infested cigars kills any beetles or eggs inside, preventing your beetle problem from spreading. Some experts even suggest freezing your cigars twice, to be doubly sure. "Freezing twice will ensure the beetles and their eggs have been killed," says Ridge-O'Connor. "It's the only foolproof way to get rid of them if you find them in your home."

After three days in the deep freeze, move the cigars into your refrigerator to avoid shocking the smokes from the temperature change, which could split their wrappers. In the meantime, wipe your empty humidor clean with a damp cloth. Don't use any type of cleaner or disinfectant--it will ruin the wood and leave an odor that will taint your cigars. After one day in the refrigerator, the cigars can be returned to the humidor. Include some strips of cedar to absorb the excess moisture being released.