Because Laying Poison Is Only Half The Battle!
Most people don’t think to check their dried food sources for pests, however, it’s somewhere you’d necessarily expect to find an infestation. Your store-cupboards can also become a home for pests such as biscuit beetles to live, which can cause contamination and health risks, as well as being a huge inconvenience. There are numerous ways to get rid of them such as pest control, heat treatment, etc.
In this blog, we will look at everything you need to know about biscuit beetles and take you through some common questions about infestations.
What Are Biscuit Beetles?
Biscuit beetles are small, hard-shelled, reddish-brown beetles with an oval-shaped body which is humped and covered in short yellowish hairs. Their larvae are white, crescent-shaped and grub-like.
Biscuit beetles are closely related to, and often mistaken for, the common furniture beetle due to their physical similarities. It is therefore advised to get an expert in to make sure the pest is correctly identified. Even a cockroach pest control can identify it for you!
These tiny beetles aren’t fussy eaters and will feed rapidly on pretty much anything, but they are mainly attracted to areas where dried food is stored.
What Do Biscuit Beetles Target?
They target goods such as flour, pasta, grains, and you guessed it right: biscuits. Owing to their eating habits, common alternative names for biscuit beetles are bread beetles and drugstore beetles, or their scientific name is Stegobium paniceum.
The pests favour temperate climates and usually thrive in dark, warm, undisturbed places around their food source, for example, in the back of your cupboard on some old, rarely-used food that you’ve forgotten about.
What is the Life Cycle of a Biscuit Beetle?
The female will lay her eggs that are pearly white and almost impossible to spot with the naked eye, they lay them in a food source. Once the eggs have hatched, they are in the larvae stage for around 4-5 months. During this time, they feed from the food source and may spread, moving from one product to another – they can easily penetrate through packaging a lot of the time.
The larvae then enter the pupa stage for about 12-18 days before forming into an adult. This part of the life cycle is relatively short. Adult biscuit beetles do not eat, instead wandering for around 3-4 weeks, during which time they will lay more eggs.
Biscuit beetles will often lay their eggs on another food source but may equally wander quite a distance from the original site. They can be found in other areas of the room such as work surfaces or window frames, as they are attracted to light. Providing that conditions are favourable, biscuit beetles will have around 4 broods per year.
How to Get Rid of Biscuit Beetles?
If you notice these little biscuit beetles, UK in your house, you should take action as quickly as possible. The treatment process is very similar to that of other stored-food pests. The affected area should be thoroughly hoovered, taking care to go over all cracks, corners and crevices, and the hoover’s contents should then be sealed and binned. Make sure to remove and dispose of any contaminated food sources.
You should then call in the help of commercial pest control who can properly fumigate and treat the infested area, as DIY pest control is often ineffective.
An official pest control London company will have the appropriate means of getting rid of an infestation, completely clearing the area and making sure there are no signs of pests left over. An appropriate insecticide may be used, and the infested areas treated to eliminate any migrating pests. They can also advise you of preventative measures to ensure the same thing doesn’t happen again.
Biscuit Beetle Size And How To Prevent Them
The adult beetle has a maximum length of 3mm. They are similar in appearance to common furniture/woodworm beetles, for which they are often mistaken.
Seeing as though the food source is the main attraction for biscuit beetles, one way of preventing them is to keep less bulky food products in the home. This, of course, is easier said than done, but you can try and cut down by only buying what you need and keeping track of food so it doesn’t get left open and forgotten about.
The food you do have should be kept in tightly sealed containers, or at least make sure the opening is closed with a food storage clip – this will also stop it from going stale!
You should also try and store your food in a cool, dry area to ensure you are not creating an ideal environment for pests. This means making sure that it is not stored near any heaters and trying to keep your kitchen at an agreeable temperature.
Lastly, make sure your food storage areas are always kept clean and tidy, clearing away any spilled food. This includes hard-to-reach areas such as drawers around the stove, behind the fridge, and little nooks and crannies where you wouldn’t usually think to clean, as well as shelves and cupboards.
FAQs
- Why am I getting biscuit beetles in my house?
Biscuit beetles, also known as drugstore beetles, are attracted to stored food products, especially those that are dry and have a high protein or carbohydrate content, like biscuits, flour, cereals, or even pet food. They may enter your house through infested food packages or cracks and crevices.
- What is the best killer for biscuit beetles?
To eliminate biscuit beetles, use insecticidal sprays designed for pantry pests. Insect growth regulators (IGRs) or natural alternatives, like diatomaceous earth, can also be effective. Cleaning and sealing food storage areas to prevent re-infestation is key. Always follow label instructions when using chemicals.
- Are biscuit beetles harmful to humans?
Biscuit beetles are not directly harmful to humans. They do not bite or sting, but they can contaminate food. If you consume food infested with their larvae or beetles, it is unlikely to cause harm but might cause digestive issues or allergic reactions in some cases.
- Where do biscuit beetles lay their eggs?
Biscuit beetles lay their eggs in dry, stored food products. These eggs hatch into larvae, which feed on the food and grow into adult beetles. Common places to find eggs are inside sealed food packages, particularly in the pantry or cupboard.
