Photo shows adult, larva, pupa, and typical damage to stored tobacco products.
These active, flying beetles are often found by the homemaker in spices, seeds, and sometimes in stuffed furniture. Eggs are laid on baled tobacco or in other vegetable matter and hatch in 6-10 days.
The small white larvae feed 5-10 weeks and cause extensive damage. At temperatures below 60 degrees F. the larvae become dormant and hibernate. Larvae pupate in the damaged material for 2-3 weeks. The total life cycle takes 70-90 days.
