The Most Effective Ways to Get Rid of Drugstore Beetles

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Stop and prevent drugstore beetle infestations with our helpful guide
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If you’ve noticed small brown bugs in your pantry or food, then you may be dealing with drugstore beetles. Throwing out infested food and cleaning your pantry can get rid of most beetles, but you may need chemical insecticides for larger infestations. Keep reading, and we’ll walk through how to identify and eliminate these beetles, plus how to prevent them from coming back.

Things You Should Know

  • Get rid of drugstore beetles by tossing out food with damaged packaging or beetles inside. Vacuum your shelves to kill drugstore beetles that are hiding.
  • Apply insecticides to cracks and crevices in your pantry as a last resort to get rid of tough infestations.
  • Heat food to 125 °F (52 °C) for 2–4 hours or freeze food for 6 days to kill drugstore beetles at all stages of their life.
Section 1 of 3:

Getting Rid of Drugstore Beetles

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  1. Look through your pantry for any products that have small brown beetles in them. Also, inspect the packaging on flour, dry mixes, bread, cookies, and spices for small holes or webbing. [1]
    • Wrap the products in plastic wrap and throw them away outside.
    • Drugstore beetles may also be found in books, wooden objects, or prescriptions that have been left out.
    • While drugstore beetles aren’t dangerous or harmful, they can give an off flavor to any food they get into.
  2. Use the narrow crevice attachment on your vacuum and clean off any residue from the shelves. Be sure to focus on cracks, gaps, and crevices to get rid of drugstore beetles that are hiding. [2]
    • Avoid using water to clean flour or residue off your shelves because it could leave behind a pasty residue that attracts more drugstore beetles.
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  3. Turn your oven to 125 °F (52 °C) and place any non-combustible items on the middle rack for 2–4 hours. Alternatively, put the items in your freezer for about 6 days to get rid of drugstore beetles at all stages of their life.
    • You may also try putting your items in the fridge for 16 days as long as it’s at or below 36 °F (2 °C). [3]
  4. Try putting out sticky traps . Sticky traps are baited with beetle pheromones to attract and kill adult beetles. Set the sticky traps in areas where you’ve seen the beetles to catch and kill them. Throw out and replace the traps once they’re full. [4]
    • Traps are not perfect for getting rid of an infestation, but they can help you catch stray beetles and figure out if there are other problem areas in your home.
  5. Apply insecticides as a last resort. Stick to insecticides that contain pyrethrins, resmethrin, allethrin, or tetramethrin that are safe to use inside. Remove all the items from the shelves or drawers. Then, apply the insecticides directly to the cracks and crevices around the area. [5]
    • Let the insecticides dry completely before laying down shelf paper and putting your items away.
    • For long-lasting control, try using residual insecticides that contain permethrin, esfenvalerate, cyfluthrin, or bifenthrin instead.
    • Only use insecticides if other non-chemical options aren’t working. If you’re still having trouble getting rid of drugstore beetles, then contact a professional exterminator instead.
    • Avoid applying insecticides directly on surfaces where you store or prepare food because the chemicals could cause contamination.
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Section 2 of 3:

Preventing a Drugstore Beetle Infestation

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  1. When you’re buying groceries, make sure the package doesn’t have any openings or rips where beetles could get inside. Check for any holes or webbing around the package, which could also be signs of drugstore beetle grubs. [6]
    • Freeze grain products for 3 days after purchasing them to ensure there aren’t any beetles. [7]
  2. Choose plastic, metal, or glass containers that have tight-fitting lids so beetles can’t get inside. Transfer open food to the containers before putting it in your pantry so beetles can’t get in. [8]
    • Airtight containers also help prevent beetles in one food product from getting into other things in your pantry. If possible, get clear containers so you can easily see if there are beetles inside.
    • Store foods you don’t use as frequently, such as pancake mix, flour, and grains, in the fridge or freezer to prevent beetles from getting to them.
  3. Wipe up any crumbs or spills in your pantry as soon as you notice them. Use the narrow crevice attachment on your vacuum to clean corners, cracks, and tight spaces that are harder to reach. [9]
    • For tough residue, wipe the surface with soapy water. Just be sure to dry it off completely so you don’t attract more drugstore beetles.
  4. Seal cracks and crevices in your pantry with caulk . If there are small openings or gaps between pantry shelves, apply a bead of caulk to fill them in. That way, spilled food won’t collect in the gap and beetles won’t have a place to hide. [10]
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Section 3 of 3:

Identifying Drugstore Beetles

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  1. Drugstore beetles are either brown or dark red and have bodies that grow to about 1 ⁄ 8 inch (3.2 mm) long. They also have small yellowish hairs on their body and rows of lines along their back. Their antennae end in a club shape that has 3 distinct segments. [11]
    • Drugstore beetles can be found worldwide, but are more common in warmer regions.
    • Drugstore beetles lay eggs in grain products or near other food sources. Their larvae are white and C-shaped, but they are as small as 1 ⁄ 10 inch (2.5 mm) so they’re hard to see with the naked eye.

Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    How do I get rid of Japanese Beetles?
    Chris Parker
    Pest Control Specialist
    Chris Parker is the Founder of Parker Eco Pest Control, a sustainable pest control service in Seattle, Washington. Since 2016, Chris has been specializing in Integrated Pest Management and doesn’t use any chemicals for pest removal. He offers removal services for ants, rodents, fleas, spiders, wasps, and more. Chris is a certified Commercial Pesticide Applicator in Washington State and received his bachelor’s from the University of Washington.
    Chris Parker
    Pest Control Specialist
    Expert Answer
    You can use milky spores to eliminate Japanese beetles. Begin by assessing the areas of your lawn or garden where they are present or likely to be harboring larvae. Purchase milky spore powder from a reputable supplier and carefully follow the manufacturer's instructions for application rates and timing. Spread the milky spore powder evenly over the affected areas, ensuring thorough coverage with a spreader or applicator. After application, lightly water the treated areas to help the spores penetrate the soil where the beetle larvae reside. Monitor the treated areas over time, as it may take several months to see a significant reduction in Japanese beetle populations. Reapply milky spores as needed, following the recommended schedule for optimal effectiveness.
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      Tips

      • Drugstore beetles take about 2 months to grow from larva to adult, so keep your eyes open for any new signs of infestation after getting rid of them. [12]
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      • Drugstore beetles are not harmful, but they may give your food an unpleasant flavor. [13]
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      • Drugstore beetles look very similar to cigarette beetles, but cigarette beetles have smooth backs and serrated antennae. You can get rid of cigarette beetles the same way you control drugstore beetles.
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      Tips from our Readers

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      • Pheromone traps only lure male drugstore beetles. However, putting something that the females might find interesting on a glue sheet seems to make an effective lure for the females (from my personal experience)
      • The beetles are attracted to light, but more specifically UV light. So make sure to check windows and doors where light is let through for these bugs.
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      Warnings

      • Avoid applying insecticide on any surfaces where you store or prep food because it could cause contamination that’s unsafe to eat. If you apply pesticides in a pantry, let it dry completely and install shelf paper to keep the chemicals off your food. [14]
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      Thanks for reading our article! If you’d like to learn more about pest control, check out our in-depth interview with Chris Parker .

      References

      1. ↑ https://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/urban/stored/drugstore_beetle.htm
      2. ↑ https://hgic.clemson.edu/factsheet/drugstore-beetles/
      3. ↑ https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/IN385
      4. ↑ https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/IN385
      5. ↑ https://www-aes.tamu.edu/files/2014/06/Pantry-and-Fabric-Pests-in-the-Home.pdf
      6. ↑ https://lancaster.unl.edu/pest/resources/369DrugstoreCigBeetles.shtml
      7. ↑ https://hgic.clemson.edu/factsheet/drugstore-beetles/
      8. ↑ https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/IN385
      9. ↑ https://ipm.ucanr.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn7452.html
      1. ↑ https://www-aes.tamu.edu/files/2014/06/Pantry-and-Fabric-Pests-in-the-Home.pdf
      2. ↑ https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/IN385
      3. ↑ https://ipm.ucanr.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn7452.html
      4. ↑ https://lancaster.unl.edu/pest/resources/369DrugstoreCigBeetles.shtml
      5. ↑ https://hgic.clemson.edu/factsheet/drugstore-beetles/

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