Ants, spiders, rodents, and mosquitoes: these are all pests that most homeowners are familiar with and that most people have a general idea of what they look like and why you don’t want them living in your home. But, what about other, less familiar pests? Take, for instance, the larder beetle. Do you know what the larder beetle is, what it looks like, and why you don’t want them invading your home? If not, that is okay. Many people don’t, but lucky for you, the pest professionals at Quik-Kill Pest Eliminators can provide you with the information you need about this pantry pest!
Let’s first begin with the big question - what the heck is a larder beetle? Larder beetles are pests that invade stored food products. Their name originates from the fact that they prefer to feed on dried, cured meats and other types of food that are high in protein. However, we are now living in modern times which means there is a refrigerator in most every home. People (except avid bulk store shoppers) buy meat in small quantities, and most people do not home cure their own meat. What this means is that today, while larder beetles can still be found invading some meat products including hams, larder beetles are usually found laying their eggs on items including dry pet food, hides, and items made from animal fur or feathers. Once the eggs hatch, the larvae will feed on these products; and, if given the chance, they will also feed on items found stored in the pantry. It is important to know that larder beetles will lay their eggs on dead insects found trapped behind your walls, in your crawl spaces, or in your attic spaces too.
Now, let’s talk about what these pantry pests look like. Knowing what they look like can help you to get help for an infestation in your home sooner rather than later. Adult larder beetles have an oval body and are dark brown to black with a light colored, usually yellow, band running across it. You will also notice dark markings (spots) within the light colored band. They are fairly small, growing to about 1/4 to 1/3 of an inch in length. The larvae have a tapered worm-like body that is covered in stiff hairs. They are larger than the adults growing to about 1/2 an inch in length.
Now, to answer that final question - why you don't want these pests living in your home? Many times an infestation begins when adults enter your home through small cracks and crevices in exterior walls and around doors and windows because they are attracted to dead bugs or animal nests that are trapped behind your walls. Once in your home, they will travel from behind your home’s walls to contaminate food sources in your kitchen. The professionals here at Quik-Kill know how expensive groceries can be, and the last thing you want is to have to throw out food because larder beetles have decided to take up residence in it! Also, larder beetles can cause damage to personal items that you have in your home as they chew holes through items made from animal products such as rugs, clothing, and more!
If larder beetles have found their way into your home or if you would like to make sure that they don’t ever get the chance to invade your home, contact the pest professionals at Quik-Kill Pest Eliminators. At Quik-Kill, we won’t just make sure larder beetles are “controlled”; we will make sure they are completely eliminated! Our year-round pest control services won’t just eliminate a larder beetle infestation from your home, but they will also get rid of the insects that are attracting them, and keep them all from being able to infiltrate your home in the future! Let the Quad City pest control professionals at Quik-Kill Pest Eliminators start protecting your home from larder beetles and other pests today!