Tobacco pests include the tobacco beetle – Lasioderma serricorne and the tobacco moth – Ephestia elutella. The most common pests for tobacco are tobacco beetles, which belong to the order Coleoptera, of the Anobiidae family. As the name suggests, they are pests that plague stored tobacco (cigarettes, tobacco leaves, cigars, etc.). However, these pests can also be found in homes, where they are attracted to stored food (for example cereals, nuts, flour, seeds, spices, pet food, etc.).

Tobacco pests have a biological cycle consisting of 4 stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. It is important to remember that the greatest damage is caused by insects in the larval stage. They feed on food, but can also damage objects such as books, bookbinders, dried flowers, upholstery, etc. Also, infested food can be contaminated by the presence of beetles, larvae, pupae, or feces. Adult forms produce holes in product packaging.

Signs of infestation

The presence of these pests can be detected by finding adults in the kitchen, cupboards, spaces where food is stored, or larvae specimens inside the food. Other important signs that indicate an infestation with tobacco pests are the presence of holes in the packaging and debris found around food bags/packages.

It is important to rigorously check darker spaces, as tobacco pests avoid light.

Types of treatments

Specific insecticides can be applied against tobacco pests by spraying, or adhesive traps can be employed.

Before applying any treatment, it is important to clean the space that is to be treated. Infested food must be discarded, and storage spaces will be thoroughly vacuumed. Uninfested food must be sealed and removed from the space to be treated. Insecticides will not be applied to food!

For the treatments applied to have the desired results, it is very important to identify and treat the sources and areas with a high risk of tobacco pests.

Insecticide treatments 

It is recommended to apply spray treatments against tobacco pests. Depending on the product used, the solution can be applied in all areas where they could hide (pantry, kitchen, cabinets, back shelves, narrow spaces). The treatments can be performed with any type of sprayer (manual, motorized), depending on the size of the space.

When treating large surfaces (warehouses, storage), the solution can be applied with the help of a nebulizer (cold fog). Thus a more uniform coverage of the treated space will be achieved. This treatment ensures both a shock and a remanence effect.

Recommended insecticides for tobacco pests control

They are biocidal substances used for treatments against tobacco pests, most of which act on the insect’s nervous system. Against tobacco pest contact insecticides are recommended in a concentrated form, which dissolves in water, according to the recommended doses. The solution is applied by spraying, with manual or motorized equipment, depending on the size of the treated space.

Recommended sprayers for the application of insecticides:

Sprayers are low-pressure applicators, which are used for the application of pesticides using precise dosing. Their capacity varies depending on the type of appliance, its design, the application method (manual / motorized sprayers), and the size of the treated space. Special attention must be paid to the settings of the device, as well as to its maintenance.

Recommended foggers for the application of insecticides:

Foggers are motorized devices that spray the solution into very fine particles, in the form of a light fog. The fine particles penetrate through all the spaces where the pests can hide, so they can be used for the application of indoor treatments against tobacco pests. Cold mist foggers are used to apply solutions that use water as a solvent.

Aerosol type insecticides

After spraying insecticides, aerosol-type insecticides may be used. The released particles will irritate adult insects and make them come out of their hiding places and thus will come into contact with the initially applied solution. Before using the insecticide, it is recommended to close the doors, windows, and furniture must be arranged so that the substances infiltrate all the cracks. The food will be removed from the space to be treated. Depending on the product used, it must be left to act for a few hours, during which time the area must remain closed, according to the specifications on the label.

Aerosol insecticides recommended for controlling tobacco pests:

Aerosol-type insecticides act by releasing the active substance in a gaseous form, thus covering the entire space to be treated and ensuring the penetration of active substance particulates into hard-to-reach spaces. They are pre-dosed and ready to use. The released particles will irritate the insects, causing them to come into contact with the previously applied insecticide, therefore, in case of pests difficult to control, aerosol insecticides are used together with spray insecticides. For optimal results, the treated room must remain closed for at least 2 hours.

Ready-to-use insecticide treatments

They are recommended for hard-to-reach spaces, where spray treatments cannot be applied (for example cracks, fissures, narrow spaces). They can be found in the form of powder, granules, liquid, and spray. Ready-to-use insecticides are applied to dry surfaces. For spaces where insecticides in liquid or spray form cannot be used, the use of insecticides in powder form is recommended. Because they act by contact or ingestion, pests must cross the treated space. Pests will take the lethal dose as they pass through the powder. It is advisable to carefully read and follow the recommendations on the label of the product used.

Recommended ready-to-use insecticides:

Ready-to-use insecticides can have the following forms: powder, liquid, spray, granules. The application is made according to the treated space, taking into account the information on the product label. These insecticides are used for areas where insecticides cannot be applied by spraying.

In hard-to-reach areas, powdered insecticides can be applied with a special device.

Recommended dispensers for the application of powder insecticides:

Dispersers are devices specially designed for the application of granular products or powder (dust). They are used to treat hard-to-reach spaces, for example: inside walls (cracks), behind panels, spaces around electrical outlets, and very narrow spaces.

Adhesive traps

Adhesive traps contain a pheromone attractant, which mimics the sex pheromones of female insects, to attract and capture males onto the adhesive surface. With the help of these traps, the natural cycle of tobacco pests is interrupted, the population is gradually diminished and eliminated. They can be placed in infested areas or in areas where the activity of insects has been noticed (kitchen, pantry, shelves, storage spaces, and sources close to food).

In addition to their use to control tobacco pests, traps can also be used to monitor them (to detect the presence and degree of infestation in a certain space, to carry out specific treatments). Traps can be placed after the application of chemical treatments to verify their results and monitor the treated space. Subsequently, depending on the number of pests caught on the trap, the repetition of the chemical treatment can be considered.

Adhesive traps for tobacco pests control:

These are cardboard boxes with a layer of glue. Adhesive traps have the role of capturing pests onto their surface and monitoring their activity. In addition to the adhesive part, the traps are equipped with a pheromonal attractant, to entice the pests, which will remain trapped on the respective adhesive. Their size and design differ depending on the type of pest for which they are intended. Some traps can catch several pests at the same time. The traps are removed together with the pests caught in the adhesive.

Protective equipment

Safety equipment has the role of protecting the person performing the disinsection treatments. To avoid inhalation of vapors created during spraying or direct contact with applied substances, it is recommended to wear complete protective equipment. This includes hooded protective coveralls, gas masks with filters, chemical protection gloves, rubber boots, or waterproof footwear, as appropriate.

Recommended protective gear:

Protective equipment has the role of protecting the person performing the treatments from dangerous substances. This category includes protective gloves, coveralls, masks, etc. The equipment is chosen depending on the type of treatment, as well as the substances used or the targeted pest.

• Chemical suit with hood

• Protective gloves

• Gas masks, glasses

For effective results against tobacco pests, a series of measures can be taken to prevent them from entering the home: the installation of insect nets, closing off access points, keeping the environment as clean as possible, followed by the application of recommended treatments and the use of adhesive traps starting from the first signs of infestation.