Beetles
In Arizona
There are more than 350,000 species of beetles in the world, and about 2,500 of those live in Arizona. That might seem like a lot, but it’s a small number compared to the state’s other insects. Nevertheless, beetles are essential members of the ecosystem and play a vital role in the food chain.
Beetles are fascinating creatures and come in all shapes and sizes. Some, like the Goliath beetle, are among the largest insects in the world. Others, like the featherwing beetles, are so tiny they can fit on the head of a pin.
Most beetles are herbivores and help pollinate flowers and disperse seeds. Some, like the ladybug, are predators and help control populations of harmful insects. Some beetles, like the Arizona Darkling beetle, are scavengers and help clean up dead animals and decaying plants.
Most beetles can be identified by their distinct, rigid, shell-like bodies and wings. These serve as armor to protect their vulnerable and often soft undersides. All beetles go through several stages in their lifetime, with each phase of life posing a unique control challenge.
Typically, an adult female will lay dozens to hundreds of eggs (depending on the species) that hatch into wingless larvae. The larval stage tends to be when most of the damage that this pest will inflict occurs. After that, they constantly feed and soon grow into a pupal stage. Like a butterfly’s pupae, this period tends to be motionless, similar to hibernation, when the beetle can cause no harm. The final phase of life is the fully grown and formed beetle, where, once again, it may resume its nuisance activity.
The beetle’s food sources are as vast and as varied as the beetle’s appearance and proliferation. Specific subsets of beetles feed on wheat, grains, and similar foodstuff. Other species prefer to dine upon fibers, cloth, and hair, putting your wardrobe or any natural fibers around your home at risk. Another group of beetles specializes in attacking and destroying wood, while others create problems because of their being where they don’t belong.
Beetles: The Infestation
Beetles can be a nuisance when they invade your home, but they’re usually just looking for a warm place to spend the winter. If you have an infestation, the best thing to do is to contact Horn Pest Management.
There are many different ways to get rid of beetles, but the most effective method will depend on the type of beetle you have.
Types of Beetles
There are many different types of beetles, but the most common in Arizona are the carpet beetle, cigarette beetle, drugstore beetle, flour beetle, grain beetle, and wood-boring beetle.
Carpet Beetles
Carpet beetles are small, oval-shaped insects that are usually dark brown or black. They get their name from their tendency to infest carpets, where they feed on the fibers. Carpet beetles can also be found in furniture, clothing, and other fabrics.
Cigarette Beetles
Cigarette beetles are small, brown insects that get their name from their tendency to infest tobacco products. They can also be found in dry food, such as cereal, flour, and spices.
Drugstore Beetles
Drugstore beetles are small, brown insects that get their name from their tendency to infest pharmacies. They can also be found in grocery stores, where they feed on dried fruit, nuts, and grains.
Flour Beetles
Flour beetles are small, brown insects that get their name from their tendency to infest flour and other grain products. They can also be found in cereals, pasta, and spices.
Grain Beetles
Grain beetles are small, brown insects that get their name from their tendency to infest grain products. They can also be found in cereals, pasta, and spices.
Wood-Boring Beetles
Wood-boring beetles are small, brown insects that get their name from their tendency to bore holes in wood. They can also be found in furniture, flooring, and walls.
Wood Destroying Beetles
Longhorn beetles
Longhorn Beetles are a large family of beetles that get their name from their long antennae. They can be found in a variety of colors but are most often brown or black. Longhorn beetles infest hardwoods and softwoods and can cause severe damage to your home if left unchecked.
As larvae, they feed on trees, both alive and dead, logs, and all forms of lumber. As grown adults, these types of beetles typically will not re-infest their food source of wood once they emerge from it.
Mesquite Borers Beetle
Mesquite Borers are Longhorn Borer Beetle in the family Cerambycidae. They are large, black, and white beetles that infest mesquite trees. As larvae, they bore into the tree and feed on the wood. As adults, they emerge from the tree to mate and lay eggs.
These beetles are known to infest the Mesquite tree wood. Most encounters with the mesquite borer beetle are witnessed during their adult phase. However, it is not uncommon to find these beetles on windowsills, wood piles, or around fireplaces.
The well-known Palo Verde Beetle is the borer family’s most misunderstood beetle. This beetle appears in the summer, most often during the Monsoon season. At least 4 inches in length, and despite being armed with large, serrated pinchers, the most ferocious aspect of this enormous beetle is its’ appearance. The Palo Verde Beetle is not a true borer, as the adults do not bore into wood to lay their eggs. Instead, they tunnel just below the surface to lay their eggs. The larvae that hatch will then feed on the roots of whatever plant they were laid near, causing the plant to wilt and eventually die.
Powder post Beetles
Powder post beetles are a type of small wood boring beetles. These include the Death Watch Beetle, Common Furniture Beetle, and many others. These beetles, when left unchecked, can turn wood into powdery dust. That’s where we come in!
These beetles are found worldwide and are second only to termites in damage and destruction. They have been known to attack both hard and soft wood alike.
Each year, their preference for wood and wood-like products causes millions of dollars of damage and losses in the United States alone. In addition, structural infestation in the Southwest is often caused by the use of untreated and infested lumber imported into the United States. These pests are also introduced into homes here in Arizona when furniture or other wooden items are brought up from Mexico, where wood treatment is not a standard practice.
Bark Beetles
Bark beetles get their moniker from the damage they inflict to the surface of the wood that lies just beneath the bark on a tree. They do not threaten any timber used in your home’s construction unless that wood has bark. These beetles can be found outside your home if there are trees that have bark. In northern Arizona, these pests are an ongoing threat to ponderosa pine trees. Since they spend their entire life burrowed beneath the bark of trees, finding one that has emerged only means it will quickly die and is no cause for concern.
Fur and Fiber Beetles
Carpet Beetles
These pests get their name from their preferred diet of, you guessed it, fur and fiber! Carpet Beetles will eat just about anything that contains keratin, including but not limited to: wool, silk, hair, feathers, horns, and even some types of wood. They are often found in homes with a lot of wool or other natural fiber carpets and with taxidermy mounts. There are visible signs of an infestation of carpet beetles, including shed skins and little furry larvae that appear to be tiny caterpillars moving across surfaces.
Dermestid Beetles
The Dermestid Beetle is a type of Fur and Fiber Beetle that has become quite a nuisance in many homes. These pests are attracted to any source of food that contains protein, including but not limited to: dead insects, leather, furs, wool, and even some types of wood. They will also feed on the hair of humans and animals, which can lead to an infestation in homes with a lot of pet hair. These beetles are often found in homes with a lot of wool or other natural fiber carpets and with taxidermy mounts. There are visible signs of an infestation of Dermestid Beetles, including shed skins and little furry larvae that appear to be tiny caterpillars moving across surfaces.
Food Supply and Beetles
Red Flour and Confused Flour Beetles
The Red Flour Beetle and the Confused Flour Beetle are two of the most common beetles found in homes. These pests are attracted to any food source containing flour or other grains. They are often found in pantries, where they will infest cereal, pasta, rice, and even spices. There are visible signs of an infestation of flour beetles, including small insects crawling on surfaces and food.
Flat, shiny, and reddish brown, these two are often confused for each other. Neither species can feed on whole kernels but thrive on flour and grain. The red flour beetle is the more common of the two and has a global distribution.
Sawtoothed Grain Beetles
The Sawtoothed Grain Beetle is another type of beetle that is often found in homes. These pests are attracted to any food source containing flour or other grains. They are often found in pantries, where they will infest cereal, pasta, rice, and even spices. There are visible signs of an infestation of grain beetles, including small insects crawling on surfaces and food.
These beetles get their name from the saw-like serrations on their abdomens. They are brown or black and about 1/8th of an inch long. Sawtoothed grain beetles can fly, unlike most other types of beetles.
Weevils
Weevils are a type of beetle that is often found in homes. These pests are attracted to any food source containing flour or other grains. They are often found in pantries, where they will infest cereal, pasta, rice, and even spices. There are visible signs of an infestation of weevils, including small insects crawling on surfaces and food.
Weevils are small, brown, or black beetles with long snouts. They are often found in pantries, where they will infest cereal, pasta, rice, and even spices. Weevils are distinguished from other types of beetles by their long snout.
NUISANCE BEETLES: The Beetles in Your Backyard
Ground Beetles
Ground Beetles are a type of beetle that is often found in homes. These pests attract any food source that contains insects or other small animals. They are often found in gardens, where they will prey on slugs, snails, and other small creatures. There are visible signs of an infestation of ground beetles, including small insects crawling on surfaces and gardens. Ground beetles are black or dark brown and have a hard exoskeleton. They are often found in gardens, where they will prey on slugs, snails, and other small creatures. Ground beetles can be a nuisance because they eat just about anything moving.
June Bugs
June Bugs are a type of beetle that is often found in homes. These pests are attracted to any food source containing fruit or other sweet substances. As a result, they are often found in gardens, where they will eat leaves, flowers, and fruits. There are visible signs of an infestation of June bugs, including small insects crawling on surfaces and gardens. June bugs are giant, dark-colored beetles that are often found in gardens. They will eat leaves, flowers, and fruits. June bugs can be a nuisance because they eat just about anything sweet.
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