Drugstore beetles have invaded

Q. What are these little brown bugs I found in my kitchen?

L. from New Middletown

A. Several residents throughout Mahoning County brought in samples of drugstore beetles the past few weeks. These tiny beetles are only about a tenth of an inch long. Thus, people frequently think they are fleas. But these beetles have a hard shell formed by their wings and do not have large, strong hind legs like a flea. A new generation can come every 30-50 days.

Although tiny, these beetles can cause significant damage in the home. They eat everything from pet food to flour and cereal in your cabinets. Pet food storage is where we think many infestations are coming from. Many university fact sheets state that these insects can even feed on poisonous materials and keep on feasting.

One of our clients was adamant that these insects could not be coming from her kitchen area, but after a long discussion, we eventually concluded they were probably coming from an open bag of dog food in the laundry room. Drugstore beetles are sometimes seen away from their food source, such as in the bathroom. This may be because these beetles stand out against the colors usually found in bathrooms (white or lighter colors) and are easier to spot than in the kitchen (wood floors or earth toned tiles). Some people will first spot the infestation in window sills.

Many of our clients are asking what they can spray to get rid of these insects. We simply explain that is it not safe to use insecticides around food.

Here’s what you can do:

Find the source of contamination. Throw out anything that is infested. You can treat items you want to keep by freezing them at zero degrees for six days.

Clean up the area by wiping away all dust. Use the vacuum.

Consider moving to insect proof storage boxes/containers.

Limit your purchase of bulk items until you are sure you have eliminated the insects.

Be careful what you buy – avoid damaged or tattered packages/boxes.

Be sure to check bookcases, pet foods, birdseed and other potential sources of infestation.

Eric Barrett is OSU Extension educator for agriculture and natural resources in Mahoning County. Call the office hot line at 330-533-5538 to submit your questions. Clinic hours are Mondays and Thursdays from 9 a.m.-noon through October.