How to get rid of this?.To get rid of pest problem under control, inspection is the first and foremost step.
CIGARETTE/DRUGSTORE BEETLES
Color: Dark red-brown.
Size: 1/10 inch.
Habits: Live and feed in dry food products of plant origin. Also attack tobacco and spices. Both species fly well and most active at night. Eggs are laid in the food product and all life stages are found there.
Habitat: Any dry food product of plant origin including pet foods, pasta, flour and cake mixes, spices.
Threat: No health threat but can damage food products.
Prevention: Store dry foods in insect-proof containers. So not store products for extended periods of time.
FLOUR BEETLES
Color: Rust-red.
Size: 1/8 inch.
Habits: Eggs are laid in dry, milled grain flours. Cake mixes, cookies and chocolate are also attacked. The Confused flour beetle cannot fly and is most common in New Jersey. The red flour beetle can fly but is a more southern insect.
Habitat: All stages of the insect can be found in flour.
Threat: Pose no health threats to man. Will damage food stuffs.
Prevention: Keep foods in insect tight containers. Do not store dry goods for long periods.
INDIAN MEAL MOTHS
Color: Wing base silver with remainder rust-red
Size: Wing spread approximately 1/4 inch
Habits: Weak fliers. Lay eggs in food materials. Cream colored 1/2 inch larvae feed and then crawl elsewhere looking for a crack or crevice in which to spin a cocoon. Larvae often seen crawling across ceilings and up walls near infestation source. Feed on a wide variety of dried foods of plant origin including dried fruits and nuts. Infested foods often covered with silk webbing.
Habitat: Any dried food of plant origin. Found in pantry and kitchen areas or where food or pet food is stored.
Threat: Spoils food but no known health threat to man.
Prevention: Store susceptible foods in insect-proof containers. Do not store foods for long periods. If moths seen flying in grocery store, inspect packages for webbing.
MEALWORMS
Color: Dark brown to black
Size: Adults 1/2 inch. Larvae up to 1-1/4 inch
Habits: Feed on dried grain products which have become wet or damp and moldy. Eggs are laid in the food. Adults are found in or around infested food. They seldom attack sound, dry food materials.
Habitat: Any damp, moldy grain product
Threat: Pose no health threat but damage grain product although such products have already been damaged by molds.
Prevention: Keep food materials dry. Store in Insect-proof containers.
SAW TOOTHED GRAIN BEETLES
Color: Rust-red
Size: 1/10 inch
Habits: Live in and feed on dried foods of plant origin. Do not attack whole grains. Adults hide in cracks & crevices when not feeding.
Habitat: Any dried food of plant origin including dried fruit and chocolate.
Threat: Spoils food but no known health threat to man.
Prevention: Store susceptible foods in insect-proof containers or keep in cold storage.
WAREHOUSE BEETLES
Color: Varies from yellow-white to dark brown
Size: 1/8 inch
Habits: Found in dried food products of both animal and plant origin. Eggs laid in the food and all stages are found there.
Habitat: Dry food products.
Threat: No health threat but can damage food products
Prevention: Store foods in insect-proof containers. Do not store for long periods of time.
WEEVILS
Color: Variable but dark
Size: 1/4 inch or smaller
Habits: Weevils are able to penetrate whole grains and beans. Eggs are laid inside the kernel where the larva feeds. The new adult makes a round exit hole to emerge. All weevils have snouts but some are more exaggerated than others. Some fly.
Habitat: Whole kernel grains and dried beans.
Threat: Threat to food infestation
Prevention: Store susceptible foods in insect-proof containers or keep in cold storage.