Cigarette Beetle (Lasioderma serricorne)
Biology: These oval, brown-red beetles are 2 to 4 mm long. The head is characteristically hidden beneath the neck plate. The adult beetles do not feed, but the yellow-white, larvae, up to 4 mm long and covered with dense hair, cause feeding damage in stored plant products. They can also develop and reproduce on tobacco and tobacco products due to digestive symbionts that help them degrade and detoxify nicotine.
Damage: The damage is cause primarily by larval feeding. Affected products include tobacco and tobacco products, as well as herbal drugs, dried fruit, cocoa, spices, etc.