Symbiotic-yeast

Guides

• Lasioderma serricorne

  cigarette beetle, tobacco beetle, cigar beetle, paprika beetle, tow bug, tobacco borer, cheroot beetle

  Lasioderma serricorne is a small stored-product pest beetle, 2–3 mm in length, with a cosmopolitan distribution resulting from human commerce. It is distinguished from similar anobiid beetles by its uniformly serrated antennae lacking a terminal club, flatter thorax profile, and smooth elytra without grooves. The species has a remarkably broad diet, infesting tobacco, cereals, dried fruits, spices, and herbarium specimens. It possesses a mutualistic relationship with yeast-like symbionts (Symbiotaphrina spp.) that assist in protein metabolism and enable survival on nutritionally poor substrates. Strong flight capability and attraction to UV light facilitate its spread and monitoring.

  stored-product-pestpantry-pesttobacco-pestherbarium-pestcosmopolitansymbiotic-yeastUV-phototaxiseconomic-pestanobiidflight-capabletemperature-dependent-developmentpolyphagouspackaging-penetrator