The drugstore beetle (Stegobium paniceum) is the most omnivorous of the storage pests. It is rust-brown in colour and grows to a length of 3 mm. The females lay about a hundred eggs, from which the adult insects develop in two to three months. The white maggots or larvae pupate in an oval cocoon spun from particles of food. The fully grown beetles live for one to two months.

The drugstore beetle is considered to be omnivorous because it infests a broad range of vegetable and animal products. As well as bakery products it will eat soup cubes, chocolate, animal food and dried fish. Now and again it will eat savoury biscuits, and even develop a taste for chilli powder. Their presence can be detected from pinhead holes in the infested items. Packaging materials such as paper and cardboard are also attacked. Since the drugstore beetle can fly well, the source of infestation is often hard to find. It usually enters houses through open or badly fitting windows.

Preventive measures and control

• Keep food cool and dry
• Find the cause of the infestation, i.e. perhaps look for hidden food left lying around (including animal food), which would go unnoticed at first sight
• Immediately remove and destroy infested foods, and if it looks alright keep it in a deep freezer for three days
• Vacuum-clean storage cupboards thoroughly (the cracks and crevices especially)
• Keep new stores in sealed containers (jars, boxes)

The basic rule is:

• Do not use insecticides in storage cupboards and next to foodstuffs