Drugstore beetle vs cigarette beetle? How to tell them apart

Published July 2, 2025 • Updated March 19, 2026
Reviewed by Julie Miller, BA in Language Arts, Editorial Lead, Dr. Killigan’s

TL;DR: Drugstore beetles and cigarette beetles look similar, but a close look reveals clear differences. A drugstore beetle has grooved wing covers and a clubbed antenna tip. A cigarette beetle has smooth wing covers and saw-like antennae. Both infest dry goods, herbs, grains and spices, so correct identification is the first step toward control. While their food sources often overlap, each species has its own preferences and spread patterns.

If you’re comparing drugstore beetle vs cigarette beetle, a quick visual check can help point you in the right direction.

Start with this quick comparison, then explore their key differences, common signs of infestation and how to get rid of them.

Drugstore beetle vs cigarette beetle: Quick comparison

Drugstore beetle: grooved wing covers, clubbed antennae
Cigarette beetle: smooth wing covers, saw-like antennae
Both: pantry pests that infest dry goods and other stored foods

Drugstore beetle vs cigarette beetle: What’s the difference?

Drugstore beetles (Stegobium paniceum) and cigarette beetles (Lasioderma serricorne) are similar in size but differ in appearance, behavior and the types of products they infest. 

Do drugstore beetles or cigarette beetles bite?

No. Drugstore beetles and cigarette beetles do not bite or sting.

Are drugstore beetles or cigarette beetles harmful to humans?

Drugstore beetles and cigarette beetles are not dangerous to people, just an issue for your dry goods. They are not known to spread disease, but they can contaminate dry goods. 

Do drugstore beetles or cigarette beetles fly?

Yes. Drugstore beetles and cigarette beetles can both fly as adults, but cigarette beetles are generally the stronger and more active fliers.

Drugstore beetles are often noticed near pantry shelves, windows or light sources, especially later in the day and into the evening. Their flight usually becomes noticeable after an infestation is already established indoors.

Cigarette beetles are more agile in flight and are often active in dim light, on cloudy days or during the late afternoon. Their stronger flight also means they may enter from nearby outdoor areas in warm weather, especially when drawn to lights. Clemson University notes that adult cigarette beetles can fly up to two miles, which helps explain why they may appear more mobile and more wide-ranging than drugstore beetles.

Where do drugstore beetle and cigarette beetle infestations come from?

Drugstore beetle and cigarette beetle infestations usually begin when infested dry goods are brought into the home. In many cases, the problem starts before purchase, with eggs or larvae already present in products from a warehouse, grain mill, retail store or grocery store.

Common sources include flour, grains, spices, dried herbs, pet food and bird seed. Cigarette beetles may also be introduced through tobacco products, dried flowers and other aromatic dry goods.

Signs of a drugstore beetle or cigarette beetle infestation

A drugstore beetle infestation or cigarette beetle infestation often becomes visible only after adults start appearing around stored goods. Because larvae develop inside the product itself, more than one generation can build inside an infested item before the problem is noticed.

One of the first signs is spotting small beetles near pantry shelves, cabinet corners or windows. You may also notice tiny holes in packaging or loose powder beneath stored items. Both drugstore beetles and cigarette beetles can chew through paper, cardboard and thin plastic packaging, allowing an infestation to spread from one product to the next.

Other signs include clumped material, feeding tunnels, shed skins and larvae hidden inside the product or along folded seams of the package.

Drugstore beetle life cycle, larvae and eggs

The drugstore beetle life cycle begins when a female lays tiny eggs on or near a dry food source.

After hatching, drugstore beetle larvae feed inside the material itself. The larvae are small, creamy white and C-shaped with a darker head. As they grow, they pass through several stages before pupating inside a small cocoon made from silk and bits of the infested material.

Once adults appear, the cycle begins again. In homes, the full life cycle often takes three to four months, though it can move faster in warm conditions.

Cigarette beetle life cycle, larvae and eggs

Cigarette beetles are especially well adapted to dry plant materials, which helps explain why they thrive in tobacco, spices and other aromatic stored goods.

They begin as tiny eggs laid on or near a suitable stored material. Once the eggs hatch, the larvae begin feeding and work their way into the material, where they continue developing out of sight. The larvae are yellowish-white, lightly hairy and curved, with a brown head capsule. Before reaching adulthood, they too pass through several growth stages and then pupate inside a delicate cocoon made of similar material.

In warm indoor spaces, the full life cycle may be completed in about six to eight weeks, though it can take longer when conditions are less favorable. As adults, they lay eggs near new food sources.

Did you know? Both drugstore beetles and cigarette beetles rely on internal microbial partners that help them survive on dry, nutrient-poor materials.

How to get rid of drugstore beetles and cigarette beetles

Getting rid of drugstore beetles or cigarette beetles starts with removing the source and cleaning the surrounding storage area carefully.

Discard the infested item.
Throw out the affected item as soon as you identify it. Seal it in a bag and place it in an outdoor garbage bin.

Vacuum shelves, corners and narrow gaps thoroughly.
Pay close attention to seams, back corners, cabinet edges and the space beneath stored items, where food dust, eggs and hidden larvae may collect. After cleaning, apply Six Feet Under® to surfaces where beetle activity has been seen, following label directions.  It kills on contact and helps provide residual protection on porous surfaces for up to 30 days.

Inspect nearby dry goods.
Check surrounding packages carefully, since infestations can spread beyond the first affected item.

Move remaining items into airtight containers.
Store clean dry goods in glass, metal or heavy plastic containers to help protect them, limit further spread and make new activity easier to spot.

Place monitoring traps in storage areas.
Use sticky monitoring traps to help detect adult activity and monitor whether the infestation is improving.

Treat dry cracks and crevices as needed.
Puff Dust to Dust® into dry cracks, cabinet joints, shelf seams, wall-floor edges and other narrow gaps where beetles may hide or travel. A light visible layer is enough. For a cleaner, more precise application, the Insect Buster will help direct Dust to Dust into tight spaces. Reapply when the dust fades or after vacuuming.

Reinspect pantry shelves, cabinet corners and nearby stored goods over the next two to three weeks. If beetles are still appearing, look again for a missed source and refresh any treatment in cracks, crevices or other problem areas as needed.

Which beetle is worse: drugstore beetle or cigarette beetle?

Neither is harmless to your pantry, but one is not always worse than the other. The bigger issue is where the infestation takes hold and how long it goes unnoticed.

A drugstore beetle can be more frustrating when it turns up in a wider range of stored materials. In addition to pantry goods, it may also infest books, packaged herbal products and other overlooked stored items, making the source harder to trace.

A cigarette beetle can be more troublesome when aromatic stored goods are involved, especially tobacco, spices and dried herbs. Unlike its name suggests, it is not limited to tobacco alone, which can make the source less obvious in a pantry or storage area. Its stronger flight activity can also make the problem feel more widespread once adults begin moving through the space.

In practical terms, the worse beetle is the one you do not identify early. 

Did you know? A drugstore beetle's tendency to infest pharmaceutical products and herbal remedies is what earned it the name “drugstore beetle.”

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