Biscuit Beetle, Stegobium paniceum
Biscuit beetle, Stegobium paniceum, is a very small brown beetle, found infesting a wide range of stored products, non-food wooden material and drugs. This beetle has an affinity to infest pharmaceutical products, such as prescribed drugs. Thus it is also called drugstore beetle. Stegobium paniceum is distributed worldwide but is more common in warm tropical and subtropical regions.
Biology of Biscuit Beetle, Stegobium paniceum
Adult beetles are very small in size about 3.5 mm in length. A mature female lays egg singly up to 70-80 eggs at once in food sources. The larval period passes through several months (usually 6-7 months) depending on the food availability. The larval period ranges from 4 to 5 months, with the pupal stage lasting from 12 to 18 days. The complete life cycle of biscuit beetles requires 7 months. In warm countries this beetle has up to four generations in one year. However, in temperate climates one generation per year is widely reported.
Nature of Damage of Biscuit Beetle, Stegobium paniceum
The biscuit beetles are omnivorous. They eat food, non-foodstuffs and drugs. Biscuit beetle feeds on breads, biscuits, flours, cookies, chocolates and spices. The main non-food infesting materials are leather, wool, hair, wooden objects, museum specimens and herbarium collections. This beetle can bore and pass through tin, aluminium foil and lead sheets. Stegobium paniceum larva is a serious concern for museums and antique collectors. As they also called Drug beetle they have an affinity to infest pharmaceutical products, such as prescribed drugs.
Pheromone for Biscuit Beetle, Stegobium paniceum
Russell IPM manufactures and supplies pheromone lure, traps and complete monitoring systems for Biscuit beetle, Stegobium paniceum. Pheromone trap provides early warning of the infestation and alter the pest controller before the problem become serious.