Beetles

With more than a quarter-million different species around the world, beetles are one of the most common types of insects. In United States households and businesses, they are most often considered “pantry pests” or “stored product pests” that infest grain products or dried goods. Once these occasional invaders burrow themselves inside one of these food products, their population can multiply rapidly and move throughout the rest of your commodities—contaminating your food supply and costing you money.

Pantry beetles often enter homes, warehouses, or businesses through cracks and crevices as they scavenge for food. They can be directly transferred via infested products, finding their way into shipping and receiving containers directly from food manufacturers. Although these beetles aren’t aggressive, they can ruin your dried goods in a short period of time, so it’s crucial to understand them to help conquer the infestation. 

How to Identify Beetles

There is a wide variety of beetles found in the United States that all have their own set of characteristics. The most common types are:

• Carpet beetle
• Cigarette beetles
• Drugstore beetles
• Flour beetles
• Granary weevil
• Merchant grain beetles
• Rice weevils
• Saw-toothed grain beetles
• Spider beetles

Generally, you can identify pantry beetles by their:

• Color – typically reddish-brown 
• Size – range from 2 millimeters to 9 millimeters 

How to Prevent Beetles

No building is exempt from the dangers of a stored product pest infestation, although good sanitation and food storage methods can help to significantly lessen your chances. Because spilled or exposed foods attract these pests, it’s imperative to thoroughly clean up any food mess and keep your goods in tightly sealed containers at all times. 

To reduce your chances of a beetle infestation, here are a few tips from the pros:

• Clean spills and crumbs from behind or alongside stoves, refrigerators, and food prep areas as quickly as possible.
• Limit how long you store your foods.
• Avoid cardboard boxes and plastic sacks, which are particularly vulnerable to beetle infestations because the insects can chew through the material.
• Utilize cool and dry storage areas.
• Pay close attention to how you store dry pet foods.

Beetle Control Solutions

Beetle infestations in your home or business can lead to a never-ending cycle of replacing contaminated food and throwing money down the drain. End that cycle today with PURCOR’s professional pest control solutions. Contact us for a free quote, or for immediate help, call us today!