Subject: What is this beetle?
Geographic location of the bug: League City, Texas
Date: 10/22/2017
Time: 12:24 AM EDT
These beetles have infested my towel closet in the bathroom (20-50 bugs). I’ve fogged the room and it killed some, but they showed up again in 48 hours, primarily in the towels, but some are crawling along the floor. They are tiny, about 1/5 the size of rice grain. What are these things?
How you want your letter signed: CR and bugs
Dear CR,
Based on the University of Minnesota Extension site, these look like Bark Beetles in the family Scolytidae, that are described as “small (1/8-¼ inch long), robust reddish brown to black insects. They are very common in the landscape, and can emerge from many types of wood brought into homes.” Is your towel closet made of cedar? Though there are many species of similar looking Bark Beetles, your individuals resemble the Cedar Bark Beetle pictured on BugGuide.
Update: Cesar Crash of Insetologia has suggested these might be Cigarette Beetles, but BugGuide indicates they eat: “Dry plant matter of any sort, including spices and tobacco.” We wonder what might be their food in the towel closet.
I think it’s related to Cigarette Beetle Lasioderma serricorne.
https://bugguide.net/node/view/43405
That does look like a better ID than we provided. Thanks Cesar.
Well, the BugGuide link is for Stegobium, ther’re similar too.
Some sources say Lasioderma can infest even furniture: https://innovativepest.com/2012/02/tiny-beetles-in-my-kitchengarage/ If the towel is a cotton towel, it is “dry plant material”.
I recieve images of these beetles very often in homes, with no apparent infestation source. Although the literature says otherwise, many people report bites, it’s hard to sday the exact species.
Well, the BugGuide link is for Stegobium, ther’re similar too.
Some sources say Lasioderma can infest even furniture: https://innovativepest.com/2012/02/tiny-beetles-in-my-kitchengarage/ If the towel is a cotton towel, it is “dry plant material”.
I recieve images of these beetles very often in homes, with no apparent infestation source. Although the literature says otherwise, many people report bites, it’s hard to sday the exact species.
I think it’s related to Cigarette Beetle Lasioderma serricorne.
https://bugguide.net/node/view/43405