Discovering a bug in the house causes panic. It can be either a lost guest or a pest attacking food or materials. A determination is necessary to take meaningful action.
How do I identify and control bugs in the house?
To identify beetles in the house, look at the location, color, size, conspicuous features and compare these with typical material and storage pests. Control methods vary depending on the species, but disposing of infected supplies and thorough cleanliness are always important.
Appearance of beetles in the house
If you want to know what pest it is, you should capture the beetle and look closely at the surrounding area. The location where it was found provides clues for identification, as do the body characteristics of the animal found. After you have made a rough classification, you should consult pictures and compare your insect with the suspected species.
Classification by color
Flour beetles are black, the caterpillars are orange-red
If you want to identify beetles in the house, take a first look at body coloring. The insects often have typical patterns and markings. Many beetles are monochrome, so internet research quickly comes to nothing. To make identification easier, you can use this table of common beetles in the house:
| adult beetles | young beetles | Larvae | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black | Grain beetle, rape beetle, dark fur beetle, flour beetle | – | – |
| Brown | Brown fur beetle, grain flat beetle | grain beetle | Flour beetles, carpet beetles |
| Red | Red-necked Buck | – | – |
| Red-brown | Bread Beetle, Brown Fur Beetle | Flour beetle, grain beetle | Dark Fur Beetle |
| Green | Rape beetle | – | – |
Note that the coloring of the insects can vary slightly depending on the individual. In some species males differ from females. Other insects that appear in the house and apartment are often mistaken for beetles. These include fire and stink bugs or the red velvet mite.
Classification by size
Another important characteristic is the size of the beetles. In the insect kingdom there are tiny species measuring just a few millimeters as well as those that grow to several centimeters in size. If you capture a beetle with a screw-top jar, you can place it on a ruler and measure the animal.
- tiny: ball beetle
- small: Brown and dark fur beetle, bread beetle, grain beetle
- large: flour beetle, bacon beetle
Classification according to conspicuous features
Most beetles you find around the house have well-developed wings. You can observe adult beetles flying as they seek their way out into the open. To identify beetles, you should look at other striking features in addition to color and size. Typical beetles with long antennae are species of longhorn beetles such as house longhorn beetles. Other beetle genera can also be identified by clearly visible antennae. The common rodent beetle, whose larvae are also called woodworms, develop clearly visible antennae.
Fighting the most common bugs in the house
Grain beetles are particularly common and feast on our supplies
Material pests have developed well-developed digestive systems so that they can utilize different substances. In contrast, stored food pests are less specialized and focus on energy-rich food. Since most species are photophobic and many are nocturnal, an infestation is usually discovered late. All pests can appear in heated rooms all year round because they are not endangered by cold temperatures in winter.
Typical storage pests:
- Rice grain beetle lays eggs in grains
- Corn weevil is a significant pest of corn
- Grain beetle as the most common primary pest of grain
Weevils
Weevils are a species-rich family, 950 of which occur in Germany. Almost all beetles and their larvae feed on plants, but there are some specialized exceptions. Subfamilies with short trunks live on different plant species or feed on fresh or dead wood. There are larvae that feed on plant roots or mine leaves. Still other species are responsible for the typical growths on leaves, which are called plant galls. A common species from this family that appears as vermin is the grain beetle. The three to five millimeter large and elongated beetle is flightless. It feeds on all kinds of grain and can be recognized by its large pronotum, which has dot-shaped depressions. Dotted longitudinal rows can be seen on the cover wings, alternating with solid strips. They not only attack grain products but also corn and dried fruits.
Combat:
- dispose of infested supplies and vacuum shelves thoroughly
- Treat joints and cracks with hot hairdryer air (€16.00 on Amazon)
- Sprinkle diatomaceous earth in niches
- Use parasitic wasps to eliminate future generations
Black Beetle
The flour beetle is one to two centimeters long. This elongated beetle prefers to fly into the apartment on mild summer evenings. The longitudinal grooves that run across the slightly curved cover wings are typical. While the body of adult beetles is black, the legs, antennae and the underside of the body appear reddish brown. Females lay their eggs in protected places from which the typical mealworms develop. They feed on animal feed, flour and grain products.
Combat:
- throw away contaminated food
- alternatively, heat in the oven at 60 degrees for one hour
- boiling water kills larvae
- release adult beetles in nature as they are popular bird food
- alternatively dust beetles with diatomaceous earth
Speck Beetle
Speck beetles only grow up to one centimeter in size
These insects can be up to ten millimeters long and have a compact and rounded to oval body. There are also mini beetles measuring one millimeter in size. The family contains several genera, the species of which differ greatly in appearance. A brown to black basic color is typical. In many bacon beetles, this is covered by red, brown or yellow scales, creating a spot pattern. The elongated larvae are covered with bristly tufts of hair and often have defensive hairs.
Combat:
- throw away contaminated food
- Have furs dry cleaned
- alternatively freeze for ten days
- Use lavender and patchouli oil
Prevention
Since it is difficult to get rid of bacon beetles, preventive measures are particularly important. You should check stored food regularly and dispose of it immediately as soon as you discover larvae or beetles. Cereals, flour, pasta, dried fruits and nuts are particularly affected. Close them well and clean cupboards regularly with disinfectant and natural household products. Extensive ventilation, beating out carpets and vacuuming sofas are important measures to eliminate possible food sources.
Speck beetles are one of the most feared pests in the home. They arise out of nothing and are difficult to get rid of.
Rodent Beetle
In this family there are different species that can appear as storage pests. Fighting brass beetles, Australian thief beetles and herb thief or other pests is not easy because of their hidden lifestyle. In order to deprive the vermin of their livelihood, you should remove organic residues such as crumbs and animal feed and thoroughly clean all niches and cracks.
Common rodent beetle
From this beetle family, the common rodent beetle appears as a wood pest. It grows up to four millimeters long and produces larvae that can reach a body size of seven millimeters. These prefer to bore into softwood and hardwood, where they leave holes behind. What is noticeable are round exit holes with a diameter of one to two centimeters, from which the flying beetles swarm out. The species attacks furniture, wood paneling and carvings, and floors.
Tip
To drive away the pests, you can rub infected wood with a fresh onion. Acorns are laid out to attract the larvae. As soon as these have embedded themselves in the tree fruits, they can be disposed of.
bread beetle
Bread beetles live in bread and also in wood
This storage and material pest can also occur in the beams if the wood is already damaged. Otherwise, the two to three millimeter long beetle, whose upper side is covered with fine hairs, attacks starchy foods. It is often found in bird nests, but gets into the home through bread products or spices.
Combat:
- dispose of contaminated food
- Suck out shelves and cupboards and clean them with vinegar
- Air the apartment regularly
- Use parasitic wasps
- Treat infected furniture with borax
- Have wooden structures assessed by a specialist
Ball Beetle
The humpback beetle is called a spherical beetle because of its round shape. It reaches a size of between one and three millimeters and has shiny and smooth wing coverts. These are brownish to red in color. The long antennae are noticeable. Since humpback beetles are nocturnal, an infestation is usually discovered late. They appear as a hygiene and material pest and occur in old buildings and half-timbered houses. The beetles nest in cavities and attack food that is contaminated with residue. Combating it is considered extremely difficult.
Combat:
- lay out damp cloths in the evening
- collect these in the morning
- pour boiling water over it or dispose of it in the toilet
- Use parasitic wasps
- Treatment of cavities with diatomaceous earth
Marianne Jäger - Kugel- und Speckkäfer
cereal flat beetle
This cultural follower is between two and four millimeters long and is characterized by light, close-lying hair. Its head is typically broad and has prominent compound eyes. The six teeth located on each side of the pronotum are striking. Cover wings are covered by raised longitudinal ribs. The beetles appreciate food rich in carbohydrates and, in addition to pasta and grain products, also eat chocolate, almonds and other nuts. Their whitish larvae feed on flour, which becomes moist and lumpy.
Combat:
- dispose of food that is no longer edible
- freeze potentially infected food
- Close container tightly
- Use ant wasp as a parasitic beneficial insect
Cockroaches
These insects are not beetles, but represent an order of their own. The cockroach is a species that can be considered a pest. It grows up to 14 millimeters in size and prefers warm and moist habitats. The insect nests in hidden niches behind moldings and panels, door frames and utility shafts. The domestic cockroach is not picky when it comes to food. It eats everything and can transmit diseases or cause allergies.
Combat:
- Use sticky traps with attractants to control infestation
- Use bait cans or sprays with feeding poisons
- continuous control necessary
- eliminate all water sources
- Cleanliness increases control success
- Close niches and gaps in walls and floors
Bugs
These insects belong to the order of beaked beetles, which are related to beetles. Their body is divided into a head, chest and abdomen, creating a typical appearance. The insects are colored variably and can be marked from a solid green or brown to striking black-red.
They get lost in apartments and buildings when they are looking for suitable winter quarters. Since they do no harm, they do not need to be fought. All you have to do is catch the animals and take them outside. Close possible entry points.
Tip
Put water with a few drops of mint oil or a clove of garlic in an atomizer bottle and spray window frames and door sills. This keeps bugs out of your home.
Frequently asked questions
Are there beetles that prefer to stay in certain rooms?
Depending on the food spectrum and habitat requirements, pests appear in different rooms. Parquet beetles spread throughout the home where there are dry wooden floors or furniture. Bread beetles prefer to nest in the kitchen because this is where their larvae find optimal feeding conditions. When the adult beetles swarm out, they can often be seen at the window. They often sit motionless against the walls. The location provides you with information about the respective species.
The beetle in the house looks strange. What could that be?
In the insect kingdom there are very unusual shapes and body shapes that look nothing like typical beetles. Occasionally, such insects also get lost in houses and apartments when the animals are looking for a place to overwinter. Such a phenomenon was observed in Bremen in 2018, when masses of strange beetles invaded buildings. This was the American pine bug, which is considered harmless.
Which beetles live in the house in winter?
Many species of bacon beetles appear as pests that can also be observed in heated rooms in winter. These include museum beetles, carpet beetles, woolly flower beetles and fur beetles. In nature, the insects overwinter in the larval stage, so that they hatch next spring and swarm out in search of a mating partner. The typical development cycle for most species lasts about a year. If the environmental conditions are good all year round, development is shortened and the pest can produce several generations per year.
What are the most common bugs that can appear in the home and damage supplies or materials?
There are a number of beetles that prefer to settle in food or materials in human environments. The success of the fight depends on the way of life, which can be more or less hidden depending on the species. Regular control measures and thorough cleanliness are of great importance in order to get pest infestation under control.
The most common beetle pests include:
- Leaf Beetle: Bean Beetle
- Gdent Beetle: Bread Beetle, Herb Thief
- Bacon Beetle: Common Bacon Beetle
- Predatory flat beetles: Cereal flat beetles
- Weevils: Grain beetle, corn beetle, rice beetle
- black beetle: rice flour beetle, flour beetle
