Beetles
There are several variations of problematic beetles that can be found within local Texas homes or businesses. While there are hundreds of different beetles that can be found in Texas the most commonly found today are the red flour beetle, the boll weevil and the june bug. Beetles can be considered quite the nuisance especially when found Inside your home or business, as they can feed on natural materials, organic matter, and even human food. To protect your home or business from beetles, first learn about these pests, their behaviors, steps for prevention, and contact Stellar Pest & Wildlife should an infestation occur.
What Are Beetles?
Beetles are small insects, whose front wings are hardened into wing-cases distinguishing them from most other common pests. Beetles typically vary in size according to their species, ranging from the small 1/8 of an inch to the much larger inch and a half. They feed nocturnally on the blood of humans and animals. Each species of beetle feed on a different diet, but most feed on organic material such as wood, leaves, flour, grain and even human hair. However, if you know how to identify and prevent these bugs, you can reduce the chance of them entering your home or business.
How Long Do Beetles Live?
Beetles, once out of their larval stage live on average for 30 to 45 days; however, this is dependent on species as some beetles can reach a lifespan of 3 to 6 months. During that time, however, a female beetle can lay dozens of eggs in her lifetime, which will develop into fully-grown beetles in roughly 10 months. If you see signs of beetles in or around your home or business, it’s best to call the licensed experts to eradicate these pests before they spread further.
How Do I Identify Beetles?
Even though beetles vary in size, color and markings, the easiest way to identify them is through their hard wing cases that shelter their frontal wings.
Boll Weevil
Boll weavers are commonly known for the reputation as being the singly most destructive cotton pest in North America costing cotton farmers upwards of $300 million dollars a year. In appearance this pest is a quarter of an inch long and can be grey or reddish brown in color with a long snout.
June Beetle
You may recognize the common June beetle by its more commonly referred name the June bug. They can range from half an inch to one and a half inches long and are blackish or reddish-brown in color. June bugs can cause extensive damage damage to your property eating not only leaves but grass, flowers, fruit, sap and food crops.
Long-Horned Beetle
The long-horned beetle family is quite extensive with over 26,000 species. A great number of this species are considered to be serious pests as their larvae, can cause extensive damage to either the trees on your property, your lumber or, to the wood in your building. With the great number of species associated with this beetle family they can come in various colors and sizes.
Powderpost Beetle
Known to be one of the most damaging pests in Texas, the powderpost beetle infests not only trees but homes with wood products such as rafters, flooring, joists and panneling. Typically these beetles are a quarter of an inch in size and can range in color from reddish-brown to dark brown, with some species appearing almost black.
Red Flour Beetle
Flour beetles are one of the most common pests found in pantries all over the world. These pests usually infest food packaging at the grocery store or warehouses and are then brought into your home or business. Once inside the packaging they contaminate the infested goods with shed skins and feces. In time, flour beetle infestations can leave you with whole cupboards full of food unfit to eat.
Flea Beetle
Flea beetles are aptly named due to their small size and their ability to jump large distances.The flea beetle while relatively harmless to humans can be a blight on your property. This pest attacks many vegetables including ones that you may have in your garden including tomatoes, cucumbers, bell peppers and even eggplant. These pests while destroying your garden can also leave behind plant diseases such as potato blight or bacterial wilt.
How Did I Get Beetles?
The easiest way beetles find their way inside your home or business is through contaminated items such as packaged food or grain, furniture and/or decor. Beetles can enter your home or business the good old fashioned way through an open doorway or gaps in your foundation or siding. Beetle infestation are not only unsanitary, but they can also quickly expand to a massive infestation problem that can cause structural damage. If you are operating a business this is can be even more troubling as you may be selling contaminated products, and many business owners will choose to close their doors for days to deep-clean after an infestation occurs.
It’s important to call in the professionals to eradicate any beetles within your home or business as soon as you find evidence of them. Beetles can infest your cupboards and pantry, feeding on your stored food products and can damage your clothing, carpet, and wood furniture. Outside, they can cause extensive damage to your property eating or boring into your plants and trees. For home gardeners or farmers, beetle control is extremely important to avoid losing produce and overall profit.
How Do I Prevent Beetles?
The best way to avoid beetles from entering your home or business is to exercise caution. Check over any items you bring inside, and assure that there is no signs of beetle contamination, such as visible beetles, eggs, or shed larval casings. Deep-clean your closets and inspect your wood furniture, flooring and joists regularly to ensure you’re not the unwitting host of a beetle infestation.
Outdoors, you can protect your vulnerable plants like rose bushes and vegetable gardens by inspecting them regularly and picking away any visible beetles.
How to Prepare for Our Visit
To prepare for a Stellar Pest and Wildlife’s beetle treatment of your home or business, you should gather the following information:
* A list of any places that you have seen beetle or beetle signs in your home or business
* The date that you first started seeing the beetle or signs
* The number of beetles that you have seen
In order to prepare your home or business, you should:
* Box up or cover any dishes or utensils in areas that are going to be treated
* Remove all pets from your home
* Cover or remove all valuable possessions and antiques
* Wash all coverings, clothing, and fabrics and box them up away from the infestation
* Place all toys and dryer safe items in the dryer on a high heat and box them away
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