The reddish brown, almost hemispherical beetle has a size of 2 - 4 mm, is covered with fine hairs and can be found all over the world (Lasioderma serricorne F.). The female beetle can lay up to 100 eggs. The pest infests leaf tobacco and tobacco products, but also dried fruits, peanuts, cocoa, corn, wheat and spices. The tobacco beetle cause tremendous damage by larval feeding on tobacco and contamination with excrements and cocoons.
The Tobacco Moth
The tobacco moth has a length of 8 - 10 mm and a wingspread of 12 - 20 mm (Ephestia Elutella.). The fore wing is blue-gray to brown-gray with two bright and wavelike lines. The back wing is gray. The female moth can lay up 100 to 400 eggs in groups of 2 - 5. The larval feeding cause the most damage on tobacco. Furthermore the damage due to contamination with excrement and cocoons is immense. Besides tobacco, the pest infests cocoa, nuts, dried fruits, coffee, corn maize, wheat and spices.
