Beetles

Carpet Beetle

Carpet beetles, as their name implies, are capable of damaging carpets. These pests will also feed upon many other materials besides carpets and will attack any item composed of animal fibers such as wool, furs, silk, feathers, felt and leather. Serious infestations of carpet beetles can develop undetected in a home, causing significant damage to clothing, bedding, floor coverings and other articles. Although there are many different species of carpet beetles, the adults of all species are small, oval-shaped beetles about 1/8 inch long. The black carpet beetle (the most common … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Beetles, Fabric & Paper Pests

Cigarette Beetle

Larva Size: 1/16-1/8” Color: White Wingspread: 1/16 -1/8” Shape: Long/Oval Color: Light brown The cigarette beetle gets its common name because it attacks tobacco wherever it is stored. It attacks a host of items such as paprika, dry dog food, beans, biscuits, chickpeas, cigars, cigarettes, cocoa beans, coffee beans, cottonseed, dates, dried banana, dried cabbage, dried carrot, dried fruits, drugs, flour, dried flowers, ginger, grains, herbarium specimens, herbs, peanuts, pepper, raisins, rice, yeast, seeds, spices, furniture stuffing, bookbinders paste and books, and even insecticides … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Beetles, Stored Product Pests

Confused Flour Beetle

Larva Size: 1/8-1/4” Color: White/Yellowish Wingspread: 1/8” Shape: Segmented Color: Reddish brown The confused flour beetle apparently got its common name because of the confusion regarding its identity. It is one of the most important pests of stored products found in the home and in grocery stores. These beetles are unable to feed on whole kernels or undamaged grain. They attack grains and grain products, peas, beans, shelled nuts, dried fruits, spices, milk chocolate, drugs, snuff, cayenne pepper, and herbarium, insect and other museum specimens. They are attracted to light even … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Beetles, Stored Product Pests

Drugstore Beetle

Larva Size: 1/16-1/8” Color: White Wingspread: 1/16-1/8” Shape: Segmented Color: Reddish brown to brown The drugstore beetle got its common name because of its being a serious pest of stored herbs used as medicine in early drug stores. It attacks a host of items that include any household food and spice as well as such things as drugs, hair, horn, leather, and museum specimens. Most commonly attacked are bread, flour, meal, breakfast foods, and condiments such as red pepper. It is also a pest of books and manuscripts. Adults can fly and they are attracted to light Prevention: Good … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Beetles, Stored Product Pests

Powder Post Beetle

Powder Post Beetle Size: 1/32 to 1/4” Color: Reddish Brown to Black Powder Post Beetles will lay their eggs in exposed wood pores, cracks or crevices. They are active at night, readily fly and are attracted to light. The larvae will tunnel with the grain of the wood and cover the tunnels with fine powder like dust/frass that often will fall from the hole. They like both lumber (oak, hickory, ash and sometimes bamboo) and manufactured products. Determination of infestation activity and severity will determine the treatment plan. Replacement of damaged lumber or full … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Beetles, Wood Destroying Pests

Red Flour Beetle

Larva Size: 1/8-1/4” Color: White but tinged yellowish Shape: 3-segmented Color: Reddish brown The red flour beetle gets its common name from its coloration and its habit of infesting flour. It is one of the most found pests of stored products in the home and grocery stores. These beetles are unable to feed on whole kernels or undamaged grain. They attack grains and grain products, peas, beans, shelled nuts, dried fruits, spices, milk chocolate, drugs, snuff, cayenne pepper, and herbarium, insect, and other museum specimens. They are attracted to flour of high moisture … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Beetles, Stored Product Pests

Formosan Termites

(Coptotermes formosanus) Swarming usually follows a warm rainy day in late spring/summer and occurs in the evening hours, starting at sundown and ending before midnight. The swarmers are attracted to lights. Formosans do have the capability of establishing secondary nests above ground if a constant moisture supply is available. An above ground nest is made of material called carton. It consists of soil and wood cemented together with saliva and feces. Suspended colonies of Formosan termites are more often encountered than the Native Eastern Subterranean termites.
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