Beetles

There are 12,000 different kinds of beetles in the United States and over 300,000 species in the world. Beetles can both hurt and help the environment. Some beetle species destroy crops or property, while some species help get rid of garbage, eat dead trees or help pollinate flowers.

Ladybug

General Information: Ladybugs are also known as lady beetles or ladybird beetles. Most species of this beetle family are highly beneficial insects, but some have a habit of overwintering in structures, leading them to become nuisance pests. Ladybugs are found worldwide with about 475 species located in the Unites States and Canada.
Habits: Many ladybug species are considered important beneficial insects because they voraciously consume plant-eating insects, such as aphids, mealybugs, mites, and scale insects, which harm crops and plants in gardens. However, a few ladybugs are destructive and feed on plants, such as the Mexican bean beetle and the squash beetle.
Habitat: During the spring and summer months, ladybug populations typically grow because the seasons favor tender foliage and aphid infestations. In the autumn, adults seek protected places to overwinter including under leaves, rocks and landscape timbers. Other ladybug species are known to inhabit structures such as buildings and homes.
Threats: Most ladybug species do not pose a health threat to humans. However, the multi-colored Asian lady beetle is known to aggravate asthma and cause allergic reactions in some people, a strong reason for ladybug pest control. In addition, they exude a viscous yellow, foul-smelling defensive fluid that may stain whatever it contacts.

Prevention:

• The most effective way to get rid of ladybugs or prevent them from entering homes and buildings is to seal cracks around windows, doors, siding, and utility pipes, behind chimneys, and underneath the wood fascia and other openings.
• Use a good quality silicone or silicone-latex caulk.
• Damaged screens on doors and windows should be repaired or replaced.
• If ladybugs have already entered a home or building, a vacuum cleaner can aid in their removal.
• If an infestation has developed inside a home or building, a licensed ladybug pest control operator should be called to evaluate and assess the problem.

Carpet Beetle

General Information: Varied carpet beetles get their name from the rainbow of color on their backs. It can take up to three years for them to grow from an egg to an adult. Adult beetles only live between 13 and 44 days!
Diet: These pests enjoy dining on carpets, woolen fabrics, dead insects, furs, hides, feathers, horns, hair, silk and bones. 
Habitat: Varied carpet beetles are found in homes in attics, Oriental carpets, tapestries and wood-based wall-to-wall carpeting.
Threats: Varied carpet beetles feed on dead insects, but also feed on upholstery and carpet, so they can damage those materials. They can also damage clothing fabric.

Prevention:

• As with moths, to avoid varied carpet beetle infestations, store clothing in plastic containers.
• Dry clean clothing thoroughly before storing for long periods of time.

Powder Post Beetle

General Information: Powder post beetles lay their eggs in cracks of wood and the larvae tunnel into the surface, filling it with a very fine powder-like dust. Powder post beetles have long, narrow, flat bodies that allow them to easily attack wood surfaces.
Diet: These pests usually feed on hard woods.
Habitat: Powder post beetles beetles lay their eggs in cracks of wood. They are found in hardwood floors, timbers and crates, antiques and other things made of hard wood.
Threats: Powder post beetles dig holes in wood. They can kill or damage trees and things made from wood like furniture. There are even documented cases that powder post beetles have destroyed houses! 

Prevention:

• Paint or seal any exposed or raw wood in your home.

Merchant Grain Beetle

General Information: Merchant grain beetles are typically not found in grain products, but instead like to attack cereals, cake mixes, macaroni, cookies and chocolate. Merchant grain beetles are dark brown and have six saw-like teeth on each side of their bodies. They can grow to be one-eighth of an inch long and have very flat bodies. 
Diet: Merchant grain beetles don’t really eat whole grain products. They are drawn to foods high in fat, such as cereals, cake mixes, macaroni, cookies and chocolate.
Habitat: These pests are found in pantries or in food processing areas or warehouses. 
Threats: Merchant grain beetles can infest stored food products and can contaminate food. 

Prevention:

• Discard infested packages.
• Clean spilled grain and food sources.

Larder Beetle

General Information: The larvae are comet shaped, brown and hairy. They are quick moving and migrate to pupate in solid material. Adult larder beetles are typically found outdoors in protected areas during the winter but during the spring and early summer they enter buildings. Females lay approximately 135 eggs near a food source and will hatch in about 12 days. The life cycle of larder beetles lasts around 40 to 50 days.
Diet: Larder beetles feed on various animal products including cheese. 
Habitat: These pests are found in pantries or in food processing areas or warehouses.
Threats: Larder beetles can infest stored food products and can contaminate food.

Prevention:

• Discard infested packages.
• Clean spilled food sources, especially pet foods.