What To Do If You Find A Drugstore Beetle In Your Pantry (& How To Get Rid Of It)

When you reach into the back of your pantry to pull out a bag of flour, finding squirming insects inside will likely make your stomach churn. Drugstore beetles, scientifically known as Stegobium paniceum (Linnaeus), are common pantry pests to be on the lookout for as they cause damage to a variety of stored foods, as well as other materials. These pesky insects lay their eggs in stored goods, which then hatch and live among the food, quickly contaminating the product by feeding on it and leaving behind waste. Unfortunately, if you find a drugstore beetle in one of your dry goods, you'll have to safely dispose of the entire package and check the rest of your pantry for signs of infestation.

These insects are very small, typically 1/10th to 1/17th of an inch in length, and brown in color, though there may be hints of red. The larvae tend to cause the most damage and are little white grubs. Generally, taking steps to rid your pantry of affected products and properly sealing your food can help to get rid of drugstore beetles. With severe infestations, it may be best to contact a professional exterminator.

Drugstore beetles will not only eat most human foods they can find, like grains, beans, pasta, flour, cornmeal, raisins, spices, candy, and a variety of other processed foods, but the annoying bugs will also munch on pharmaceutical medications, wool, leather, dry pet foods, and bird seed. Additionally, they may bore through wood, books, and even thin metal sheets, such as lead and aluminum foil. Because of the extensive damage these insects can cause, especially to your food, it's crucial to address the issue as soon as it's discovered.

Though these pests aren't known to carry diseases or bite, once they've gotten into your box of cookies, it's no longer safe to eat. Even if you kill the bugs inside, their waste has already contaminated your food, and it's necessary to throw it away. Because of this, drugstore beetle infestations can be costly as they chomp their way through your kitchen cabinets and pantry. It's also crucial to properly clean your pantry after finding invasive critters to ensure everything is safe and bug-free.

Once you've found food infested with the pesky beetles, you must put the entire box or container in a thick, sealable plastic bag, such as a freezer bag, or wrap it in durable plastic before throwing it into your outdoor garbage. This will help to prevent the beetles from infesting something else nearby. While it's sometimes recommended to put products that only have a few bugs into the freezer for several days or into the oven for a few hours to kill the adults and larvae, the food may still be contaminated. It's best to get rid of all the consumables that have been affected.

The rest of your pantry supplies should be kept in durable glass, plastic, or metal storage that seals tightly. This is one simple tip for keeping your kitchen cabinets pest-free, as the bugs won't be able to enter these materials. While everything is out of your pantry, take the time to clean up any crumbs or food residue on the shelves and floor and wash the area with soap and water. If the beetles have made their way into the pantry itself, you may need to use an insecticide marked safe for food storage, though it might be better to call a pest control expert. After cleaning, spray the pesticide into the crevices of your space or wherever else bugs could be hiding. Before replacing your pantry supplies, lay foil or paper over the shelves to avoid chemical contact.