The drugstore beetle (Stegobium paniceum), also known as the bread beetle, biscuit beetle, and misnamed as the biscuit weevil (despite not being a weevil), is a tiny, brown beetle. It can be found infesting a wide variety of dried plant products, where it is among the most common non-weevils to be found. It is the only living member of the genus Stegobium. It belongs to the family Ptinidae, which also includes the deathwatch beetle and furniture beetle. A notable characteristic of this species is the symbiotic relationship the beetles have with the yeast they carry, which are transmitted from female to larvae through the oviduct.[1]
The drugstore beetle is distributed worldwide with higher prevalence in warmer climates. The drugstore beetle is commonly confused with the Cigarette Beetle, as they have a similar size and coloring. Adults possess antennae ending in 3-segmented clubs, while cigarette beetles have serrated (saw-like) antennae. Their bodies are also lined with grooves running longitudinally along the elytra, whereas the cigarette beetle is smooth.[2]
Food resources
The drugstore beetle attacks a wide variety of food sources including pharmaceutical products and medicinal plants, earning its name. This species is known for feeding on both food and non-food materials. The beetle eats bread, grain, coffee beans, powdered milk, sweets like cookies and chocolates, spices and herbs, dried fruit, seeds, and more. They also consume museum specimens, wool, hair, leather, books, upholstery, and manuscripts. Adults gnaw through packaging forming large holes in the material, leading to their deterioration, contamination, and loss of structural integrity.[1]
Life history
Drugstore beetle life cycle
The life cycle of this transitions from the egg, to 4-6 larval instars, the construction of a cocoon for the pupa, and finally, the adult stage.[3] The female can lay up to 75 eggs, depositing them in or near sources of food. Approximately 80% of her eggs end up being fertile.[1] The egg stage lasts around 7–20 days at a temperature between 20°C and 27.5°C. The larvae then form a cocoon of silk and food material which they use to pupate. The pupa stays in the cocoon for varying amounts of time before the adult emerges. Between temperatures 20°C and 27.5°C, the pupal stage typically lasted from 5–12 days. Temperature and relative humidity play an important role in the growth and development of drugstore beetles, with the optimal range being between 15°C and 35°C, and an ideal temperature of 30°C. Studies have found that increasing the relative humidity or temperature shortened the incubation period for these eggs and the pupal period.[3] At peak conditions, it takes the eggs around 40 days to develop into adults. At the end of this cycle, adults live for about 85 days at 17.5°C.[1] The specific length of each stage depends on the temperature and food sources available to the beetles.[3]
The Stegobium paniceum is a pharmacy beetle has a vast evolutionary heritage that stretches back millions of years. Fossil evidence suggests that the genus Stegobium has ancient roots, with the discovery of Stegobium raritanensis fossils dating back to the Late Cretaceous period approximately 94 to 90 million years ago, preserved in New Jersey amber. Additionally, another fossil species, Stegobium defunctus, has been identified from the Eocene aged Green River Formation in Wyoming, further extending the beetle's evolutionary timeline. These ancient fossils provide valuable insights into the early morphological characteristics and ecological adaptations of the drugstore beetle's ancestors. Archaeological findings from the Bronze Age site of Akrotiri, Santorini, Greece, going back to around 1500 BC, provide evidence of drugstore beetles being present with stored pulses. This discovery emphasizes the historical significance of these pests in damaging human food supplies over thousands of years. This comprehensive understanding of the drugstore beetle's evolutionary history enriches our knowledge of its ecological role and adaptive success over geological time scales.[6]
Genetics
As a stored product pest, the evolutionary history of the drugstore beetle suggests that it evolved from a wood-feeding ancestor. Studies found that the beetle has 8 autosomal chromosomes and 1 sex chromosome forming a diploid set of 18 chromosomes. The sex determination system for Stegobium paniceum is based on XX-X0 as they lack the Y chromosome. The genome size of this species is estimated to be around 238 to 345 Mb which is significantly smaller than the median genome size of 760 Mb for the Coleoptera order.[2]
Mating
Male and female S. paniceum use sex pheromones to attract a mate. Female drugstore beetles utilize stegobinone, a volatile compound, to elicit a pheromonal response that communicates their presence and availability to males. This compound makes it much easier for the drugstore beetle to search for mates, indicates their willingness to mate, and facilitates the mating process by exciting and attracting males.[7] They produce copious amounts of sex pheromones, reaching as much as 50 to 200ng, allowing the females to maintain the signal for greater distances. It was found that male response to females peaked 5 to 12 days after becoming an adult. For females, their pheromone levels increased after 1 day, levelled off after 5, and lasted at least 14 days.[8] The pheromone is also specific to this species, ensuring the propagation of the drugstore beetle's genes.
The proper orientation of the male and female during the mating process follows two experimentally determined phases called pre-mounting and post-mounting. The first phase involves the female proactively directing pre-mounting behaviors such as mate finding and courtship. The latter component involves the male detecting tactile cues by coming into contact with the female’s dorsal setae, which are sensory hairs located on her back. The male uses physical touch to obtain information regarding the female’s condition and her capacity to mate, which allows him to better engage in mating behaviors.[9] The tarsal claw slots are secondary sex features of males that play a major role in mating behavior, especially in species that don’t engage in parental care. The male drugstore beetle uses the claw slots found at the end of their legs to trap the setae on the elytra or forewing of the female. The hairs on the female beetle gets inserted and trapped into the claw slots of the males. This behavior is supported by evidence that when the male dismounts from the female, there is a time lag caused by the male trying to remove its claws from the female. This interaction improves the positioning of the male during mating, preventing him from falling off of the female prematurely, thereby prolonging the duration of mating and enhancing the overall mating process.[10]
Physiology
Drugstore beetle on human fingertip
The drugstore beetle is a reddish brown, small beetle ranging from about 1/10 to 1/7 inches (2.25mm to 3.5mm) long.[11] When viewed from above, the beetle has an oval shape with a rounded head and dorsal plate that’s bent forward. Adults have serrated antennae ending in three final segments that are more enlarged and distinct. Their body is covered with rows of pits which gives them a striated appearance. Their wing coverings are also lined with longitudinal grooves. In comparison to the cigarette beetle, the drugstore beetle larvae have shorter hairs and the pupae are more slender. The larvae have shorter hairs and its pupa are slender.[1]
Ventral side of drugstore beetle
Both males and females appear nearly identical except that males have a slot-like structure on the tarsal claws located at the end of their legs which is a feature that is not present in females. This is one sexually dimorphic feature of this species, but it can only be observed under a microscope. During the pupal stage, males and females can be better differentiated as the female genital papillae are bulging outwards and divergent, while the male genital papillae are not protruding and aren’t as pronounced. Adults carry their genitals within their body so the main way to distinguish between the two sexes occurs during the pupal stage.[2]
Mutualism
Stegobium paniceum possess large cells with symbionts located in the mycetome and lumen of the intestine. Mycetomes, an organ part of the digestive system, has four lobes in drugstore beetle larvae. As the beetle develops into an adult, six tubular appendages appear from each lobe.[12] Two of the six appendages may exist to remove waste products produced by the symbionts. They also serve to provide nitrogenous waste products to the yeast to promote their growth. The larvae lack symbionts immediately after hatching until they take in the yeast cells orally, infecting the mycetocytes of the midgut mycetome organ. The yeast continue to accumulate throughout the pupal stage.[2] The symbiotic yeast cells found in this species are elongated with a bud attached to one end. The cells were named S. anobii and were classified under the genus Saccharomyces temporarily, but this taxonomic categorization needs further study. The size of the yeast cells ranges from 1.5 to 3.5 micrometers in width and 3 to 6 micrometers in length.
The beetles obtain sterols, necessary for their growth, from their diet as well as from the yeast they harbor.[2] The main function of the yeast is to provide their host with B-complex vitamins. Multiple theories exist to explain how the drugstore beetle obtains the vitamins from the yeast. The prevailing theory is that as the larvae develops, the yeast cells leave the mycetomes, allowing the host to obtain the essential vitamins by digesting the yeast cells. Another theory claims that the vitamins enter the host by diffusing from the yeast cells to the cytoplasm of the mycetome cells. Experiments discovered that when the yeast cells were eliminated, no larval growth occurred, indicating that the vitamins are essential for host survival.[12] Drugstore beetles rely on the symbiotic relationship they have with the yeast cells housed within their bodies to survive. While rearing their young, females use their oviducts to place the yeast cells on their eggs which are then consumed by larvae after they hatch. The B vitamins that the yeast produce are essential for the survival of the larvae, making it possible for them to exist in areas with food of poorer nutritional value. This symbiotic relationship increases the chance of survival for the larvae even in environments with scarce resources. As the beetle's lifespan increases, the yeast also live for longer. The yeast cells are able to propagate themselves using the beetles, spreading through the beetle's offspring. The drugstore beetle act as a source of protection for the yeast as well. Both groups benefit greatly from their coexistence in this symbiotic relationship.[1]
Interactions with humans and livestock
A pest of many dried plant products, the drugstore beetle negatively impacts stored materials and leads to economic loss. Fumigants like phosphine were previously used to remove this pest, but after repeated usage, the fumigants posed a risk to health. Many medicinal plants of China which are used for various treatments are damaged by this pest, greatly impacting the economy. Thus, there is great motive for finding other mechanisms of combatting this species. Sex pheromones play a significant role in mate selection which suggests that this beetle has a developed olfactory system, allowing semiochemical strategies to be used to provide a safe way to control this pest. S. paniceum relies on semiochemicals to act as signals that help them locate food and oviposition and mating sites. Chemicals released by Chinese medicinal plant materials (CMPMs) attracts large numbers of these beetles, leading to an infestation. The behavior of drugstore beetles can be manipulated by utilizing volatile compounds similar to those produced by the CMPMs to target their olfactory system, but further research is needed to study these compounds.[13]
The drugstore beetle, although mostly associated with infesting dried plant items, also has notable interactions with humans and cattle that go beyond agricultural settings. In urban environments, drugstore beetles can infiltrate homes, grocery stores, and warehouses, posing challenges to food safety and storage. Infestations in residential settings can lead to food contamination and structural damage, prompting the need for pest control measures to safeguard human health and property. Moreover, drugstore beetles have been documented as pests in pharmaceutical facilities, where they can compromise the integrity of medicinal products and impact public health.[14]
Additionally, these beetles are known to infest animal feed and bedding materials, affecting livestock operations and agricultural productivity. Drugstore beetle infestations in livestock settings can result in feed spoiling and financial losses for farmers. This emphasizes the significance of implementing pest management measures specifically designed for agricultural and commercial environments. Therefore, addressing the interactions between drugstore beetles and humans and livestock requires comprehensive approaches that consider both public health and economic implications.[14]
Pest control
Source of Infestation
Drugstore beetle damageDrugstore beetle as a household pest
The most effective method of ridding a home of this beetle is to try to discover the source of the infestation. Drugstore beetles often enter a home in bulk items like bird seed, grass seed, or dry pet food, where several generations of beetles can develop unnoticed until some of the adults eventually leave to infest new locations. Telltale signs of infested items are shot-like holes[15] puncturing the outside packaging of food items and pockmarking solid items like crackers and pasta, as well as loose powder at the bottom of storage bags. While adult beetles do not feed, they are adept at chewing holes.
Once inside the home, the adult beetles will lay their eggs on a variety of foods including whole grains, processed grains and vegetative material. Food sources which can become infested include grains, flour, bread, rice, seeds, beans, pasta, cereals, bird seed, grass seed, potpourri, spices, teas, and tobacco.[16] While they are highly adept at chewing out of cardboard, foil, and plastic film to escape the package in which they have undergone metamorphosis to adults, they are somewhat less likely to eat into a sealed, airtight foil or plastic bag. Ideally, all open packages should be discarded in an infested home; however, it is also effective to freeze items if the entire contents can be brought below −20°C (−4°F).
Food storage areas like pantries and cabinets need to be vacuumed thoroughly, including the crevices between floor boards, the corners of cabinets, and areas where mice may have hoarded things like dry dog food. A bird nest within a home can also provide a haven for drugstore beetles, and a professional may need to be consulted to address this. Lowering home humidity levels can be helpful as well. While the use of chemical insecticides may be undesirable in food storage areas, food grade diatomaceous earth can be useful sprinkled in corners or even mixed into bird seed (diatomaceous earth is edible, but inhaling it should be avoided).
Another way of controlling the population rate could be by exposing the beetle to higher temperatures (43-55°C),[17] over longer periods of time.
Efficacy of Essential Oils
That cons of insecticides, increasing resistance to compounds, and high costs were incentives that drove researchers to discover alternate means of pursuing pest control. In the search for decent alternatives, scientists have found that carbon dioxide gas (CO2) and essential oils from plants could be used to safely regulate Drugstore Beetle numbers. This transition away from synthetic insecticides to plant based insecticides was meant to resolve some of the health concerns associated with synthetic compounds. Studies were conducted to investigate the usefulness of an essential oil from Z. bungeanum Maxim on Drugstore Beetle larvae and adults. Results showed that beetles that were given higher doses of these oils had higher rates of mortality. The benefit of using essential oils is that they exhibit low mammalian toxicity which makes it a promising alternative to synthetic insecticides. Z. bungeanum Maxim was shown to have high repellent activity which points to its promise as an effective means of pest control.[18]
Drugstore Beetles are a pest that severely impacts Chinese medicinal materials. The essential oil from Z. bungeanum Maxim provides a safer alternative for pest control. It has the capacity to prolong the time it takes for larvae to develop and can even keep adults from laying eggs successfully, effectively controlling pest numbers. Both adults and larvae were impacted by the oils and any nuances in their responses was attributed to differences in morphology and behavioral response. The essential oil can be used as a natural pest control agent with healthier and safer implications compared to other means of pest management.[18]
Economic impact
The economic consequences of drugstore beetles are significant and diverse, affecting several businesses and individuals worldwide. These persistent pests, categorized as stored product beetles, have a remarkable ability to infest and damage a wide range of stored goods, including grains, cereals, spices, pharmaceuticals, and more. Their presence in stored products not only contaminates them with insect fragments, exoskeletons, and fecal matter but also renders them unfit for human consumption, leading to significant financial losses for businesses and households alike. The damage inflicted by drugstore beetles often necessitates the disposal of affected goods, resulting in wasted inventory and revenue loss.[19]
Additionally, the presence of pests in food processing facilities, warehouses, and retail outlets can damage their reputation, delay the flow of goods, and attract attention from regulatory authorities, therefore worsening the economic impact. Effective pest management strategies, including regular inspection, proper storage practices, and sanitation efforts, are essential to mitigate the economic impact of drugstore beetles. By addressing infestations promptly and implementing proactive control measures, businesses and households can minimize financial losses and safeguard stored commodities from these persistent pests.[19]
Treatment
The drugstore beetle commonly infests stored products, posing a problem to many homes. There are many ways to counter their rapid growth. Once the source of the infestation is located, any disposable items populated with beetles should be wrapped in plastic and discarded. Because the beetles lay their eggs on or near food items, it’s important to thoroughly inspect food containers for them. The drugstore beetle prefers warmer temperatures so placing them in a freezer for either 16 days at 2°C or 7 days at 25°C will kill them at any stage in their life cycle. Alternatively, the beetles can also be heated at extremely high temperatures of 88°C for an hour or 48°C for 16 to 24 hours in an oven. Regular check-up and maintenance is required to prevent reinfestation. This means cleaning up any spilled items quickly and storing food in airtight glass, plastic, or metal containers. The last resort is utilizing insecticides or insect growth regulators, but these extreme measures are typically not necessary.[20]
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References
1 2 3 4 5 6 Edde, Peter A.; Eaton, Marc; Kells, Stephen; Phillips, Thomas (June 2012). Biology, Behavior, and Ecology of Pests in Other Durable Commodities. Kansas State University: Kansas State Research and Extension. pp.47–48. ISBN978-0-9855003-0-6.
↑ Hedges, Story; Lacey, Mark (1 December 1996). Field Guide for the Management of Structure Infesting Beetles. Vol.II: Stored Product Beetle/Occasional & Overwintering Beetles. Franzak & Foster. pp.95–96. ISBN978-1883751036.
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