Beetles have their wings hidden beneath a covering that can be colorful. "Bugs" are a common name for creepy crawly things, but we use the name here for those insect whose common name has the word "bug" in it.

Common pest beetles and bugs in our area are powder post beetles, old house borers, carpet beetles (very small), grain beetles, lady bugs, bedbugs, and batbugs. The boxelder bug is one of many outdoor beetles and bugs that wander into human structures and can be annoying, but do no harm.

Powder Post Beetles

Powder post beetles are small beetles that bore into wood and, when present in large numbers, can weaken structural wood. They make small holes in the wood, but the presence of holes does not necessarily mean there is an active infestation. Professional inspection and treatment is needed.

Old House Borers

Old house beetles sometimes make their presence known by chewing noises that can be heard by people, especially at night. They make small holes in wood. Professional inspection and treatment is needed.

Carpet Beetles

Carpet beetle larvae damage carpets and other materials. The damage is similar to that of the clothes moth, but treatment is different. Good housekeeping and frequent vacuuming are useful for prevention. Professional treatment is advised if there is a visible infestation.

Grain Beetles

Various types of small beetles infest stored grain and other dry foods such as pasta. Some also eat dried plant material. All damaged food should be put in plastic bags (to prevent spread) and discarded outside. The storage area should be cleaned thoroughly. Grain beetles often come into a house on or inside packaged food. Some grain beetles can bore through most packaging materials.

Lady Bugs

Lady bugs are usually not a problem. There are several types of lady bugs, and they vary in color and number of spots. They can become a pest when they gather in large numbers inside a structure. They do no harm, but it can be frightening to see such large numbers of this "cute" bug inside a bedroom!

Crickets

Crickets normally live outside but sometimes come inside seeking warmth. The adult house cricket is light brown and usually under an

Bedbugs

Bedbugs have no wings and cannot fly. They are light to dark brown and up to 1/3 inch. They look a little like small ticks but have only six legs (ticks have eight). Bedbugs bite mainly at night. They feed on animal blood and the common bedbug prefers humans, but will also feed on dogs and cats and other warm-blooded animals. Some people do not notice the bites, but other people become allergic and the bites can be itchy and cause much misery and lost sleep. Bites can become infected, but bedbugs are not thought to carry disease.

Bedbugs need professional treatment.

Batbugs

Batbugs are similar to bedbugs and will bite people. They are found in places where bats nest, and if the bats are removed from a human dwelling, they will seek new victims. Therefore, it is important to remove and treat areas where bats have nested. These pests need professional treatment, which is the same as for bedbugs.

Boxelder Bugs

Boxelder bugs are about 1/2 inch long and black with distinct red markings. They do no damage, but can be very annoying when they enter a home because of the loud noise they make when attracted to lamps.

Other Beetles and Bugs

Like the boxelder bug, many beetles wander into human structures accidentally and do no harm, but they can be annoying. Barriers such as screens and tight window fittings prevent most of these from entering, and if they get in, they are effectively controlled by either trapping in a piece of paper and releasing outside or using a swatter or newspaper. If you are in doubt, please contact us.