Pest Education • DFW Pest Control
Cigarette Beetle Control in DFW
Cigarette beetles infest spices, dry goods, and stored products. Learn how to find the infested source and clear them out.
Reviewed and updated June 2026
At a Glance
Cigarette beetles are small stored-product pests that infest spices, dry foods, and more. Finding and discarding the source is the key step.
Quick Facts
- Look: Small, oval, light brown; humped profile
- Infests: Spices, dry goods, pet food, tobacco
- Sign: Beetles near pantry, windows, or lights
- Concern: Contaminated stored products
What Are Cigarette Beetles?
Cigarette beetles are small, oval, light-brown beetles with a humped appearance. Despite the name, they infest a wide range of stored products, including spices, dried foods, pet food, cereals, and dry goods, not just tobacco.
Adults are attracted to light and often appear at windows, which is sometimes the first sign of an infestation hiding in the pantry.
How to Control Cigarette Beetles
Like other pantry pests, control depends on finding and removing the infested source rather than spraying the kitchen.
- Inspect spices, dry goods, and pet food for beetles, larvae, or webbing.
- Discard infested items in a sealed bag and outdoor trash.
- Vacuum shelves and cracks, then wipe down the pantry.
- Store dry goods in sealed containers and rotate stock to prevent reinfestation.
Treatments are selected and applied per their labels. Tell us about children, pets, edible gardens, beehives, and other sensitive areas before service, and follow all preparation and re-entry instructions. More on pet- and pollinator-conscious treatment →
Common Questions
Where do cigarette beetles come from?
They usually arrive in an infested package of spices, dry goods, or pet food, then spread to other stored items in the pantry.
How do I get rid of cigarette beetles?
Find and discard the infested products, vacuum and clean shelves and cracks, and store dry goods in sealed containers. Removing the source is essential.
Do cigarette beetles only infest tobacco?
No. Despite the name, they infest many stored products, including spices, cereals, dried foods, and pet food.
Sources & Further Reading
Guidance changes over time. Follow current product labels and local recommendations. This page is educational and is not medical advice.
Have a Pest Question?
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