Beetle Control: How to Get Rid of Beetles

This page is an expert guide on getting rid of beetles from your property using the products and methods suggested by our experienced pest control specialists. Follow this guide and use the recommended products and we guarantee you will be successful in eliminating beetles.

Beetles are a common infestation that occurs in and around commercial and residential properties. You will mostly find beetles active at night and flying around outdoor light fixtures. There are many different types of beetle and depending on the species and tendencies, you can find them anywhere from around your yard, inside furniture, closets or even your pantry foods.

Beetle infestations usually surface the most in areas with dampness issues or water nearby as beetles have been known to gravitate towards moisture. The issue must immediately be dealt with as they pose multiple risks, from damaging your wood or plants to contaminating dried foods.

If you are dealing with beetles in your home or outside in your yard, we can help. Follow the expert advice in our treatment guide below which will show you how to get rid of beetles effectively and cost-efficiently.

Identification

Before you can proceed with a treatment program, you need to be sure that the insect you are dealing with is actually a beetle. Careless identification can lead to using the wrong treatment products and can be a waste of your time and money. Below are some traits and facts about beetles to aid you with identification:

• Beetles are from the largest insect order Coleoptera. There are well over a quarter million species of beetles worldwide. In North America alone, more than 25,000 species have been discovered to this date.
• Because there are so many species of beetle (asian beetles, Japanese beetles, etc), they vary in size, shape and color. No matter the species, beetles do all share the same basic characteristics: shell-like wings, chewing mouthparts and a pair of antennae.
• Most beetles have 2 sets of wings and can fly but despite this ability, beetles are not very skilled at flying compared to other insects.
• Beetles feed on small insects, plants and animal fibers. They may not pose any deadly threat but they can cause damage to plants and vegetation around the home, contaminate your food, ruin fabrics and infest furniture. This is why if beetles are gathering around your home, they must be dealt with as soon as possible.

Use the description and image above to help you to properly identify beetles. If you are not entirely sure, contact us and we will help you with correct identification.

Inspection

After you have confirmed that you are dealing with beetles, you can proceed with an inspection to identify not only where the beetles are active, but also what is drawing them to the area.

Your home or yard can become attractive to beetles for a number of reasons. Some beetles are brought in via stored food products you purchased from the grocery store, others are wood-boring beetles that like the trees outdoors and the wooden furniture inside your home. Others are overwintering pests and make their way indoors when the temperatures are cooler to seek warm shelter.

Where To Inspect

Indoors, inspect your carpets, rugs, furniture, closets, and along baseboards. Inspect storages spaces, attics, basements, pantries and areas of your home that are undisturbed. Outdoors, you should check around your yard, especially where there is light as they may fly around light fixtures at night. Along if you have a tree in your yard, inspect that as well for wood-boring beetles.

What To Look For 

You're looking for beetles and their larvae. Beetles larvae look like worms with small hairs, and will often be found indoors on the edges of carpeting, baseboards, and tufts of furniture. If you can't find either beetles or larvae, check for damage to clothing, outdoor plants, furniture, and packaged foods.

Treatment

Once you have confirmed beetle activity it's time to begin treatment. Remember that you must read all the product labels and follow the application instructions on these labels, and stay safe by wearing personal protective equipment (PPE).

Depending on the type of beetle you have around your home, there are products that can effectively kill beetles and keep them away from your home. What works best for most beetle infestations are two products in particular.

We recommending using a residual insecticide like Supreme IT, which works as a barrier treatment and broadcast application on yard to keep beetles out of your home.

Step 1 - Spray Supreme IT around Yard and Perimeter

Supreme IT is a broad-spectrum insecticide that is labeled for treating beetles. It also has a long residual effect that continues to kill for up to 90 days after application.

To apply Supreme IT, simply mix water in a hand pump or hose-end sprayer then add Supreme IT at a rate of 1 oz per gallon to cover 1,000 sq. ft. To accomplish uniform control when applying to dense grass foliage, use volumes of up to 10 gallons per 1,000 sq. ft. Measure the square footage of your lawn to determine how much Supreme IT you need to cover the entire area. Shake well and pump your sprayer.

Broadcast the Supreme IT mixture across your entire yard and garden as opposed to spot treating. Use a fan spray setting to get nice uniform coverage.

Next, you should spray a perimeter treatment of Supreme around the outside of your home and structure to create a barrier that will keep beetles out. Spray around doors and windows, around the foundation going up 2 or 3 feet then spray any other possible points of entry.

Prevention

After the beetle activity has ceased thanks to treatment, you will need to make sure it stays that way and doesn’t once again become camping ground for beetles or any other bugs and insects, here are some preventive measures to help keep your homes beetle-free.

• Don’t leave leftovers on kitchen tops or crumbs lying. It attracts insects of all kinds and nature. Preserve them in air-tight jars with rubber lids and clean up after dropped crumbs. The same goes for your trash can. Be sure to secure the lid on it every time it is used.
• Check your pantry regularly for pantry pests. Throw out old or unused dried foods and keep the foods you wish to keep sealed in air-tight containers.
• Inspect your place for any wall gaps, cracks, or holes in the walls and vents if you find any, have them sealed or filled with caulk.
• Trim bushes and trees away from your house. When walls come in contact with trees, beetles find an easier way inside the house since they love wood.
• Opt for yellow bug lights outdoors to make Beetles less attracted to the light.
• Lastly, spray a quarterly treatment of Supreme IT around your home and yard for continued beetle and insect control.

Key Takeaways

What are Beetles?

• Beetles are a class of insects known for invading indoor structures and gathering around the perimeter of buildings, particularly at night.
• There are many different species of beetles that can infest your yard and home and can contaminate pantry foods, damage plants, and wood or infest fabrics and furniture.

How To Get Rid of Beetles Outside and Indoors

• Eliminate beetle infestations by treating your yard and the barrier of your home with Supreme IT to control the beetle population.

Preventing Beetle Reinfestation

• Seal points of entry around your home, reduce clutter and spray a quarterly treatment of Supreme IT to prevent beetle reinfestation.