Cigarette Beetle

Cigarette Beetles in Bristol and Johnson City TN

The cigarette beetle is found throughout the world and the United States. It is a threatening pest of tobacco where the eggs are laid in the folds of newly harvested, baled, or bundled leaves in storage, but never on live plants in the field. Five or six generations per year may occur in warm localities, and in the U.S., three generations can occur per year. They can also be found in food storage areas and are known to chew through books, manuscripts, furniture fabrics, and other organic materials.

Cigarette Beetle Habitat

As adults, cigarette beetles are strong fliers and will fly on late afternoons and cloudy days. They are active throughout the year. Their primary habitat is storage areas or warehouses that contain dried tobacco. Here in Tennessee, cigarette beetles may fly to homes from nearby warehouses and cause a reinfestation. They will also invade homes to feed on cereal, flour, and other stored products that are a staple of most pantries.

Cigarette Beetle Behaviors, Threats, or Dangers

Although they can infest food and pet food, cigarette beetles are only considered a nuisance pest. They will not bite you or transmit diseases. This cosmopolitan species will infest dried vegetable materials including tobacco wherever it is stored and is the most destructive pest in stored tobacco. It is also a very serious pest of books, where it may cause injury to the binding and the leaves. If an infestation is suspected in homes, the focus will be on finding and discarding infested materials. It is particularly important to check spices, pet food, and old rodent bait. If you need help or advice with cigarette beetles in Bristol and Johnson City, contact your local beetle exterminator.