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; we guarantee you will successfully eliminate beetles.

Beetles are a common infestation 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 be dealt with immediately, as they pose multiple risks, from damaging wood or plants to contaminating dried foods.

If you are dealing with beetles in your home or yard, we can help. Our treatment guide below offers expert advice on how to get rid of beetles effectively and cost-efficiently.

Identification

Before you can proceed with a treatment program, you must be sure that the insect you are dealing with is a beetle. Careless identification can lead to using the wrong treatment products and waste 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.
• Because there are so many species of beetles (Asian beetles, Japanese beetles, etc.), they vary in size, shape, and color. However, no matter the species, beetles share the same basic characteristics: shell-like wings, chewing mouthparts, and a pair of antennae.
• Most beetles have two sets of wings and can fly, but despite this ability, they 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 properly identify beetles. If you are unsure, contact us, and we will help you with the correct identification.

Inspection

After you have confirmed that you are dealing with beetles, you can inspect them to identify where they are active and what is drawing them to the area.

Your home or yard can become attractive to beetles for several 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, and others are overwintering pests that make their way indoors when the temperatures are cooler to seek warm shelter.

Where To Inspect

Indoors, inspect your carpets, rugs, furniture, closets, and baseboards. Inspect storage spaces, attics, basements, pantries, and undisturbed areas of your home. Outdoors, you should check around your yard, especially where there is light, as they may fly around light fixtures at night. 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. Beetle larvae look like worms with small hairs and are often found indoors on the edges of carpeting, baseboards, and tufts of furniture. If you can't find either beetle 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 to read all the product labels, 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, some products can effectively kill beetles and keep them away from your home. What works best for most beetle infestations are two products in particular.

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

Step 1: Spray Supreme IT around the Yard and Perimeter

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

To apply Supreme IT, mix it with water in a handheld pump or hose-end sprayer.

Apply Supreme IT at a rate of 1 oz. per gallon of water 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 yard and garden instead of 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, and then spray any other possible entry points.

Prevention

After the beetle activity has ceased, thanks to treatment, you must ensure it stays that way and doesn’t once again become a camping ground for beetles or other bugs and insects. Here are some preventive measures to help keep your home 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 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, who love wood, find an easier way inside the house.
• Opt for yellow bug lights outdoors to make beetles less attracted to the light.
• Lastly, spray Supreme IT quarterly 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.
• Many different species of beetles can infest your yard and home, contaminating pantry foods, damaging plants and wood, and infesting 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 Supreme IT quarterly to prevent beetle reinfestation.