Cigarette Beetles

Behavior and Habitat of Cigarette Beetles

Cigarette beetles are associated with processed foods of all kinds. The length of the cigarette beetle life cycle is highly dependent on temperature and the food source, but usually takes 40 to 90 days. Females lay 30 to 40 eggs over a period of weeks in a stored tobacco or dried food product. Cigarette beetles are external feeders (the larvae develop outside of whole seeds) and prefer processed foods, such as pastas, cereals, and flours. The larvae prefer to reside in dark cracks and crevices and are most active at night. The adults are also very strong fliers. Cigarette beetles are one of the few stored product pests that can chew through cardboard and other packaging substrates. Cigarette beetles are often found infesting dried tobacco in warehouses and processing facilities, but are not commonly found in actual cigarettes or cigars. They will infest common food products such as cereals, pet foods, nuts, raisins, and seeds.