Facts about Cigarette Beetles

Cigarette beetles are a huge source of problems in pantries, kitchens and, of course, anywhere that there may be cigarettes or tobacco. They primarily feed on dried plant, animal or tobacco products, but are also known to eat paper products and cotton. Females lay between 30 to 100 eggs within the span of 3 weeks, and larvae hatch within 6 to 10 days. They are about 2 to 3 millimeters in length, have wings and are a brownish color, making them similar in size and appearance to drugstore beetles (in fact, they are often confused for drugstore beetles, which can make it extremely hard to determine what is the best course of action in the event of an infestation). However, do not let their small size deceive you; when an infestation of cigarette beetles are found, very big problems can arise very quickly.