Biscuit beetles are a common pest that can cause significant damage to food products. You might wonder how to prevent and get rid of biscuit beetles.
Well, you will get to know all about it in this article. These pests can contaminate food with their droppings and also spread diseases.
Biscuit beetles can be a nuisance and lead to inconvenience. They can infest your home and cause damage to your belongings.
You can do a few things to prevent an infestation, including keeping your house clean, organizing everything, properly storing food, and using pesticides.
If you already have an infestation, you can take a few steps to get rid of the bugs. It is important to prevent and get rid of biscuit beetles if you encounter them in your home or business.
What are biscuit beetles?
Biscuit beetles are small, hard-shelled, reddish-brown beetles that get their name from their similarity to old-fashioned biscuits. They have an oval-shaped body that is humped and covered in short yellowish hairs. Their larvae are white, crescent-shaped, and grub-like.
Interestingly, biscuit beetles are very close relatives of the Common Furniture Beetle (woodworm), often mistaken for the pest.
Other Names for a Biscuit Beetle
The biscuit beetle is also commonly referred to as the bread beetle and the drugstore beetle. This is because it is known to infest a variety of food items, including bread and prescription drugs.
Interestingly, there are a few different names for the biscuit beetle. The most common name is bread beetle, as it tends to consume loaves of bread and other similar items. However, the name drugstore beetle is also used, as these beetles commonly infested drugstores in the past.
Where To Inspect for biscuit beetles?
Biscuit beetles their name because they are often found near food products in stores, such as crackers, cookies, and cereal. They will emerge from their cocoons near food and then begin to feed on the product.
The best way to find and get rid of biscuit beetles is to inspect various areas where food is stored.
Since biscuit beetles like to live in dark, moist places, it is important to inspect the following areas if you have pets: pantries, shelves, cabinets, and any other area where pet food is stored.
Additionally, make sure to check around the edges of your home where there may be cracks or openings that provide access for the beetles.
What To Look For
Biscuit beetles are a common type of pest that can infest your home. They are attracted to food and will lay eggs near food products, which will hatch into larvae.
It is important to inspect open food packages for adult and larvae biscuit beetles and take action to get rid of them if you find any.
Adult biscuit beetles can be found in a variety of areas where food is stored. They are commonly found in cupboards, shelves, and pantries. Drugstore beetles like to eat a variety of foods, such as grains, cereals, pasta, flour, spices, candy, and chocolate.
The life cycle of a biscuit beetle?
Biscuit beetles go through several life stages and will typically have around four broods per year. It is important to know the life cycle of these pests so that you can better prevent and get rid of them.
The life cycle of a biscuit beetle starts with the female laying her eggs in a food source. The eggs of the biscuit beetle will hatch into larvae and will feed on the food until they are ready to pupate.
Once they reach adulthood, the beetles will mate and lay eggs. The eggs hatch into larvae, which will repeat the process.
The life cycle of a biscuit beetle is interesting due to the fact that the adult beetle does not eat. In fact, it only wanders around for 3-4 weeks before laying eggs. So, eggs hatch into larvae that feed on starches, such as flour and cereal.
How to prevent and get rid of biscuit beetles
Biscuit beetles enjoy a broad range of dried, stored foods but can also eat non-food items such as paper from books and wool, fur, leather, and museum specimens. There are certain things and tips you can follow to prevent and get rid of biscuit beetles.
You should first identify them from the moment they enter your home, and if they are already present, you can take steps to get rid of them.
Although biscuit beetles may seem like a minor nuisance, they can cause significant damage to your food pantry. These beetles are strong enough to drill through the wood in order to get to the food they crave, and their habits often result in hundreds of dollars’ worth of damage.
If you have discovered a biscuit beetle infestation in your home, our DIY guide can help you eradicate them with ease.
How to get rid of drugstore beetles
If you have little brown beetles in your house, it is important to take action as soon as possible. The treatment process for getting rid of drugstore beetles is very similar to that of other stored-food pests.
You will need to identify the source of the infestation and take steps to eliminate it.
How to prevent biscuit beetles
To prevent biscuit beetles from invading your home,
- it is important to keep fewer bulk food products in the home and store food in tightly sealed containers or with a food storage clip.
- One of the best ways to prevent biscuit beetles is by making sure that your kitchen is kept at a reasonable temperature and clean.
- Pests like these thrive in dirty and cluttered areas, so you can deter them from coming nearby, keeping your kitchen spick and span.
- Furthermore, be sure to properly seal any food items that you don’t want to be infested – this will make it difficult for the beetles to get in.
What are pheromone traps?
Pheromone traps are a type of trap that uses chemicals to lure pests. The idea is that the pests will be drawn in by the chemical and then be unable to escape. This is a good alternative to using heavy-duty insecticides, which can be harmful to both people and the environment.
Pheromone traps work by attracting the male biscuit beetle with the pheromones that are sprayed in the trap.
Once the males are lured in, they cannot escape and will be trapped inside. This is an effective way to get rid of these pesky beetles without using any harmful chemicals.
Pheromone traps emit a scent that mimics the pheromones of the beetle. When the beetle detects the scent, it will fly towards it and get trapped in the sticky substance on the trap.
As a result, this pheromone trap will help to prevent and get rid of biscuit beetles.
Are these beetles harmful?
No, biscuit beetles are not very harmful to health. However, they may contaminate food sources and storage areas with feces or eggs, so we recommend you to have a thorough deep cleaning of infested areas and dispose of any contaminated food.
Do Biscuit Beetles Bite?
Biscuit beetles are a common household pest that can be difficult to get rid of. Contrary to popular belief, they do not bite humans.
However, they can contaminate food and damage furniture and other belongings. There are a variety of ways to prevent and get rid of biscuit beetles, depending on the severity of the infestation.
Biscuit beetles can be a nuisance, and it is important to take steps to prevent them from becoming a problem or infestation in the first place.
There are a variety of things you can do to keep these pests away, including keeping your home tidy and free of clutter, sealing any cracks or openings where they could enter, and using insecticides as necessary.
Even though it’s best to keep biscuit beetles away, the best thing to do if they become a problem is to hire a professional pest control service. The professionals will have the knowledge and tools necessary to eradicate the pests completely.