Drugstore Beetles — The Tiny Pantry Pest
- 3 days ago
- 2 min read
You open a cabinet, grab a box of food, and notice tiny brown beetles crawling inside. At first, you think it’s nothing. A few days later, they’re everywhere. That’s usually when people realize they’re dealing with drugstore beetles, one of the most common pantry pests we see in Rialto, Fontana, and throughout Southern California.
They’re small, quiet, and easy to miss at first, but once they settle in, they spread fast and contaminate more than just food.
What Do Drugstore Beetles Look Like?
Drugstore beetles are small, oval-shaped, and reddish-brown. They’re about the size of a sesame seed. Many people confuse them with cigarette beetles because they look very similar.
You’ll usually notice them:
Crawling inside pantry cabinets
Inside food packaging
Flying slowly near lights or windows
They don’t bite, but they are persistent and difficult to eliminate without proper treatment.
Where Drugstore Beetles Hide
These beetles love dark, quiet areas with access to food. Common hiding spots include:
Pantries and kitchen cabinets
Behind shelves and drawer seams
Inside wall voids near food storage
Garages where pet food or bulk items are stored
Once they find a food source, they stay close and continue breeding until it’s removed.
Where They Lay Eggs
Drugstore beetles lay eggs directly inside food sources. That includes:
Flour, rice, and pasta
Cereal and baking mixes
Pet food and bird seed
Spices, tea, and even vitamins
The eggs hatch inside the product, which is why infestations often go unnoticed at first. By the time you see adult beetles, larvae have already been feeding for weeks.
How Long Before You Notice an Infestation
Most people don’t notice drugstore beetles for 30 to 60 days after they arrive.
Here’s why:
Eggs hatch quietly inside packaging
Larvae feed hidden from view
Adults emerge later and spread to new items
By the time beetles appear in multiple cabinets, the infestation is already established.
Why You Don’t Want Drugstore Beetles in Your Home
Even though they don’t cause direct health issues, drugstore beetles are a serious problem.
They contaminate food and supplements
They chew through cardboard, paper, and thin plastic
They spread from one cabinet to another
They waste money by ruining stored goods
Ignoring them means throwing out more food over time and risking a repeat infestation.
How to Get Rid of Drugstore Beetles
Getting rid of drugstore beetles takes more than spraying. The key is removing every food source and stopping the breeding cycle.
What helps:
Empty the pantry completely and inspect every item
Throw away anything infested or questionable
Vacuum shelves, corners, and cracks
Store food in airtight containers only
Clean shelves with soap and warm water
DIY sprays might kill visible beetles, but they won’t reach eggs hidden inside packaging or cracks.
Professional Drugstore Beetle Control in Rialto and Fontana
At TruPest Solutions, we don’t just treat the surface. We identify the source, target hidden breeding areas, and apply treatments designed for pantry pests. We also help you prevent future infestations by addressing storage habits and entry points.
If you keep seeing small brown beetles in your cabinets or pantry, don’t wait. These pests spread fast and are much easier to eliminate early.
Call 951-334-5288 or visit TruPestSolutions.com to schedule your drugstore beetle control service in Rialto or Fontana today.
