Cigarette Beetle vs Rice Weevil
Cigarette Beetles and rice weevils are easy to mix up at a glance, but a few details separate them quickly. Here is how to tell which one you found and what, if anything, you should do about it.
Quick answer
Check for this first. A cigarette beetle has rounded, humped body with smooth, ungrooved wing covers, while a rice weevil has long, narrow snout extending from the head.
Side-by-side comparison
| Cigarette Beetle | Rice Weevil | |
|---|---|---|
| Group | Beetles | Beetles |
| Scientific name | Lasioderma serricorne | Sitophilus oryzae |
| Size | 2–3 mm | 2–3 mm |
| Colors | Brown and Red | Brown and Red |
| Legs | 6 legs | 6 legs |
| Wings | Yes | Yes |
| Bites or stings | No | No |
| Risk | Nuisance | Nuisance |
| Key feature | Rounded, humped body with smooth, ungrooved wing covers | Long, narrow snout extending from the head |
Key differences
- Signature feature: Cigarette Beetles: rounded, humped body with smooth, ungrooved wing covers. Rice Weevils: long, narrow snout extending from the head.
How to identify cigarette beetles
A tiny, humpbacked, reddish-brown beetle that infests tobacco, spices, dried flowers, cereals and pet food. Adults are strong fliers and are often found near windows.
- Rounded, humped body with smooth, ungrooved wing covers
- Serrated, saw-like antennae
- Head bent downward so it looks hooded
How to identify rice weevils
A small, dark weevil with a long snout and four faint reddish spots on its back. Females chew holes in whole grains such as rice, wheat and corn and lay an egg inside each kernel.
- Long, narrow snout extending from the head
- Four faint orange or reddish spots on the wing covers
- Pitted thorax and the ability to fly
Which one is more dangerous?
Neither is more dangerous than the other; both are rated nuisance on our scale.
Cigarette beetles do not bite; they contaminate and damage stored products. Rice weevils cannot bite people and are not harmful if accidentally eaten, but they spoil grain.
Where and when you'll see each
Cigarette Beetles turn up in pantries and stored food and in the kitchen, mostly in spring, summer, fall and winter. Rice Weevils turn up in pantries and stored food and in the kitchen, mostly in spring, summer, fall and winter.
Because they share habitat, you may find both in the same place, so check each individual.
What to do if you find one
Cigarette Beetles: Locate the source product, often spices, paprika or pet food. Read the full removal guide for more.
Rice Weevils: Throw out infested rice, grain, pasta and whole seeds. Read the full removal guide for more.
Biology: beetles
Beetles go through complete metamorphosis: egg, larva (grub), pupa and adult. The larval stage often does the most feeding and damage, and it can last from a few weeks to several years depending on the species. Adults protect their flight wings under hard wing covers called elytra, which is why most beetles look armored and meet in a neat line down the back.
Frequently asked questions
What is the main difference between cigarette beetles and rice weevils?
Signature feature: Cigarette Beetles: rounded, humped body with smooth, ungrooved wing covers. Rice Weevils: long, narrow snout extending from the head.
Which is bigger, a cigarette beetle or a rice weevil?
Cigarette Beetle: 2–3 mm. Rice Weevil: 2–3 mm.
Do cigarette beetles or rice weevils bite?
Cigarette Beetles do not bite. Rice Weevils do not bite.
Where are they usually found?
Cigarette Beetles: in pantries and stored food and in the kitchen. Rice Weevils: in pantries and stored food and in the kitchen.