Pest Education

Beetles

The most common type of insect is the beetle. Beetles may not be as well known as other household pests like ants or spiders, but with more than 30,000 species living in the United States alone, beetles are likely to wind up in your Utah yard or home at some point. You can tell beetles apart from other insects by their unique wings. Their first pair of wings is hardened and serves as a protective shield for their second pair of wings. Their second pair of wings are much more delicate and are what they use for flying. Other physical features of a beetle include well-developed antennae, chewing mouthparts, and a defined line going down their backs where their hardened wings meet.

Beetles are often grouped by what they feed on; fabrics, wood, grains, seeds, or plants. Their feeding habits make beetles unwanted destructive pests. When living in our yards and homes, they will feed on and damage things like clothing, carpets, rugs, blankets, wooden furniture or construction materials, stored foods, gardens plants, and landscaping plants.

Beetle infestations develop after discovering that your property or home will provide them with suitable living conditions and easy access to food sources. Outside, beetles typically live in areas where there is damp soil or vegetation like flowerbeds, gardens, trees, and the ground under woodpiles, landscaping ties, flowerpots, and trash cans.

When living close to our homes, it is common for beetles to find a way inside, either on their own or inside something like a box, potted plant, or contaminated dry goods. Beetles are often attracted to our home’s exterior by outdoor lighting and will move inside through spaces they find around windows and doors. Once inside, depending on the species, you may see the adults crawling on walls, around light fixtures, and in dark, damp areas like closets and basements. Females then lay their eggs on a suitable food source, and after the larvae hatch, they will feed on and develop in the provided food.

The list below will provide you with some helpful tips to prevent beetles from taking over your Utah property:

• Seal spaces around windows and doors.
• Store trash cans, potted plants, and other containers up off the ground and away from the outside walls of your house.
• Deep clean carpets and upholstered furniture regularly.
• Don’t purchase dry goods from the store that have holes or tears in them.
• Remove dry goods from their original containers and place them in plastic, metal, or glass containers with tight-fitting lids.
• Store items made from natural fibers like blankets, linens, and clothing in pest-proof storage containers.
• Replace traditional white outdoor bulbs with LED bulbs that are less attractive to beetles.