Drugstore beetle , also known as scratch beetles or cookie beetles , are generally considered to be harmless to human beings . These little , reddish - dark-brown beetles are not know to bite , sting , or transmit any diseases . They do not have any spitefulness or harmful toxins . So , in price of direct physical injury , chemist’s shop beetles are not a business .
However , despite their harmless nature to mankind , drugstore beetles can make significant hurt and contamination to stored food and other household point . These pests have a astray - range diet and are known to infest a variety of dry plant and creature product . This include items such as flour , cereal , spices , dry fruit , pet solid food , herbs , tobacco , and even museum specimen .
The problem with drugstore beetles lies in their power to reproduce rapidly and overrun large quantity of food . Female beetles lie their ballock in food sources , and the larva that hatch from these eggs feed on the infested materials . This can leave to contamination with their excretion , caducous skins , and drained bodies , cause the impact food for thought unsuitable for consumption .
Preventing and controlling drugstore beetle infestation is important to protect the quality and safety of stored food detail . Here are some tips on how to deal with these pests :
1 . name and eliminate the source : Inspect your buttery , cabinets , and other storage areas for mansion of plague such as beetle , larvae , or damaged packaging . Discard any infested items right away to preclude the spread of the beetles .
2 . Clean and sanitize : Thoroughly clean the touch areas with scoop and water , paying attention to cracks , crevices , and corners where beetle might cover . Use a vacuum cleaner cleaner to transfer any mallet or larvae that may be present .
3 . fund nutrient properly : Transfer ironic goodness such as flour , cereal , and grain into airtight containers to prevent beetle from accessing them . This also help in detecting any infestation early on .
4 . Freeze invade items : If you surmise that a food item is invade but still want to salvage it , you could lay it in a sealed handbag and stop dead it for a week . The extreme cold temperature will kill the beetles and their larvae .
5 . Seek professional help : If the infestation prevail or becomes overwhelming , it may be necessary to touch a pest mastery professional who can furnish targeted intervention to eliminate the mallet .
While drugstore beetles are not directly harmful to humans , their presence can lead to taint and price to stored intellectual nourishment items . hold preventive measuring stick and quick addressing any infestations is crucial to maintain a safe and hygienic support surround .
Caroline Bates
