Beetle Identification & Prevention

Understanding Beetles: What You Need to Know

A beetle is a type of insect; its wing structure is the best way to identify a beetle from other insects. Their first pair of wings provide a protective cover for the second pair of delicate flight wings. When at rest, the first pair of wings meet in the middle, forming a distinct line down the back of the body.

Hundreds of thousands of types of beetles live worldwide, varying in color, shape, size, behavior, and food preference. These insects live in large populations and make up the largest order of insects. Their large populations make it quite tricky to keep these pests away from our Omaha yards and homes.

Beetles have become common invaders of our homes; learn about controlling beetles in your home with the help of our pest guide.

Are Beetles Dangerous? Understanding the Risks

The answer to the question "Are beetles dangerous," is, technically, yes. However, the better way to describe beetles is destructive. Beetles contaminate food sources and destroy our personal belongings through their feeding habits. Pantry pests are beetles that infest our food, while beetles that feed on fabrics we call fabric pests.

Beetle infestations can destroy crops, contaminate dry goods (cookies, crackers, biscuits, oats, rice, seeds, wheat, corn, and beans), and cause damage to rugs, clothing, and blankets.

An interesting fact about beetles is that the adults are not responsible for the well-documented damage these pests cause; their larvae are the responsible party. The females lay their eggs on a suitable food source, and when the larvae hatch, they feed on the food provided.

Why Are Beetles Invading My Home?

Beetles live outside all around us and thrive in our yards. The damp soil under mulch in gardens, woodpiles, and yard debris provides a perfect habitat for beetles.

When living in the soil and under vegetation near our homes, it is common for our home's exterior and interior lights to attract the attention of adults. As they crawl around the exterior of our houses, they enter through tiny cracks and gaps they come across. Once inside, females look for a suitable place to lay their eggs.

Another way beetles enter our structures is by hitchhiking. Beetles infest food at food processing, packaging, and storage facilities. When we go to the store and purchase the infested food, we unintentionally cause a beetle infestation in our homes.

Furthermore, bringing into your home secondhand items like rugs, clothing, and blankets infested with beetle eggs or larvae can be a root cause of a beetle infestation.

Common Locations for Beetle Infestations

In addition to our Omaha homes, beetles regularly make themselves comfortable in restaurants, grocery stores, schools, hospitals, museums, storage facilities, and anywhere else that provides them with suitable breeding sites and food sources.

Beetle larvae are quite small and live in the dark, hard-to-see areas of our homes, so we can easily overlook a problem with these pests. The longer they go unnoticed, the more problematic they will become in your home. Once the beetles reach maturity, you won't be able to help but notice the beetles crawling around your home's surfaces. If you are regularly spotting beetles crawling on your home's services, reach out to a local pest control expert for help.

Effective Strategies to Eliminate Beetles

A pest control professional can remove beetles from our Omaha homes by creating an individualized plan to remove beetles. Here at Quality Pest Control, our Omaha, NE pest control service will identify your pest problem, find their entry points, and implement a long-term plan of action. If you are having trouble with beetles, please don't hesitate to contact us for help. We are committed to our clients and providing the customized services necessary to help you maintain a pest-free home. To learn more about our proactive residential and commercial pest control measures, call today!

Preventing Future Beetle Infestations in Omaha

Use the following prevention tips to keep beetles in Omaha out of your home and away from your family's food and stored personal belongings.

• Seal entry points in your foundation.
• Seal gaps around windows and doors.
• Place mesh covers over vents entering your home.
• If you notice beetle activity in your home's stored food, immediately remove the food from your home.
• Inspect food packaging for rips or tears before purchasing it from a grocery store.
• Check plants and boxes that were outside before bringing them into your home.

Year-round pest control is the best solution to problems with beetles and other household pests. Call today for the best Omaha pest control.