Beetles

Beetles: The definitive guide and how to eliminate them

The beetles are one of the most common bugs that we usually see there and that, sometimes, we tend to ignore the fact that they seem quite harmless. However, you should know that there are thousands of species and that not all are as innocent as they seem to be, much less when they have reproduced and made your home your home.

Well, if you are experiencing a beetle infestation, you probably know what we are talking about, and to help you deal with the problem, we wanted to bring you some important information that you should know about these insects, as well as some very useful tips to get rid of of them once and for all.

What are beetles?

These are insects belonging to the great family of the Coleoptera, which includes species such as ladybugs or ladybugs, weevils, fireflies and, obviously, beetles.

These bugs are found in almost all parts of the world and in all regions, except in the open sea, they feed on plants, fruits, flowers, excrement, wood and other smaller insects, depending on the species to which they belong, and some of them live on land, while others adapt better in the water.

This huge group of insects is divided into four distinct groups that are:

Polyphaga, corresponds to the largest subgroup of all, with about 85% of the known species, including ladybugs, weevils, long-horned beetles, cascarudos and fireflies. Its diet is based on plants, mold, insects and some plants.
Adephaga, includes earth and aquatic beetles, tiger beetles and many other carnivorous beetles.
Myxophaga, covers less than 100 species, including small insects that can live in water or sand particles. Their diet revolves around aquatic plants, mold and some fungi.
Archostemata, considered the oldest group of beetles, comprises about 50 species, most of them related to wood.

Why do beetles appear?

Surely you are wondering why there are bugs in your house. Well, if you have a garden or live near parks or forests, it is very likely that you will receive the unexpected visit of these insects.

Since they feed on plants, flowers and other smaller bichillos, a garden is the ideal place for their survival and reproduction, plus they like to live among the foliage, under the stones and on the ground itself.

Another factor that causes the appearance of beetles is artificial night light. You may have noticed the presence of one or more of these bugs in your home, especially at night and in the rooms where you have the light on, and it is precisely due to the attraction of these bugs by night lighting. So, if you have windows or doors open and the light of the rooms on, it is very likely that some beetle will fly by and sneak around without you even noticing.

Anyway, whatever the reason why these pests have invaded your home, you do not have to share your space with them, there are some things you can do to get rid of these annoying bugs and later you’ll know what we mean.

Types or species of beetles

There are about 400,000 species of beetles, some of them with diets and flexible survival conditions, but among the most common and known throughout the world we have:

Buprestidae or jewel beetle

They comprise around 13,000 different species, of which some represent a threat to agriculture. They are characterized by striking colors and feed mainly on the bark of trees, leaves and the nectar of flowers.

Carabidae or ground beetle

It is a family of approximately 30,000 species. Most of these insects are dark and metallic, and their diet revolves around worms, snails and other bichillos, so they play a regulatory role in the invertebrate population.

Woodworm

This particular species is often very annoying to humans. If you do not know them, they are very small beetles, whose larvae tend to attack dry wood, such as wood from doors, windows or furniture. In their adult stage, these bugs dig a hole to the surface and take flight in search of new sources of food to deposit their eggs and continue with their expansion.

Cerambycidae or longhorn beetle

They are characterized by their large size and their striking and intense colors. They represent a plague for houses, since they feed on logs and worked wood.

Chrysomelidae or leaf beetle

They comprise about 35,000 species, characterized by the variety of their colors and spots on their bodies, which feed mainly on plant matter, representing a threat to crops.

Beetle sting or bite

Beetle bites are not very common, because only some of the species are really dangerous for humans. Some of them are the stag beetle, the blister beetle and the bombardier beetle.

As for the stag beetle, it gets its name from the strong jaws that it possesses, whose ramifications make them look like the horns of a deer, which it uses to defend itself and fight against other beetles in the courtship of the females. While it is unlikely, these beetles can bite people, although they do not usually cause severe discomfort or damage too serious.

On the other hand, the blister beetle bite tends to be a bit more painful, since, as the name implies, this bug can produce blisters on our skin. This is mainly due to the secretion of hemolymph, an internal fluid that generates blisters on the arms or neck and produces a throbbing but passing pain that does not require emergency treatment.

As for the bombardier beetle, it does not usually bite or sting people, but secretes a toxic liquid as a defense mechanism, which boils and produces a noise similar to a small explosion. If this liquid were to fall on a person’s skin, it could burn and irritate it, so it is best to take care of your back and stay away from this small insect.

Are beetles dangerous?

Although much of the beetles may be unthreatening to humans, there are some species considered harmful, such as the stag beetle and blister beetle, of which we spoke in the previous segment. Although they do not usually attack people, if they feel intimidated or bothered, they will not hesitate to use their defense mechanisms to inflict some kind of damage on those who consider their enemies, and this includes us humans.

However, many beetles are considered a danger for crops and food stored in warehouses, causing great economic losses. One example is the so-called “blind chickens“, a type of beetle larva that attacks the roots of grain and vegetable plants, as well as weevils, which devour the grains of corn, beans and rice found in plants. warehouses and storage places.

Anyway, having a lot of beetles hanging around there can not be any good, so, in case of infestation, we will have to focus on exterminating these pests before they can bring much more serious consequences.

How to eliminate beetles?

In general, beetle infestations can be controlled through synthetic or organic insecticides, trap doors and mechanical disinsection systems, or natural predators. It should be noted that, on occasion, it may be necessary to use more than one technique to guarantee the total extermination of all insects.

Synthetic or organic insecticides

Well, when it comes to controlling a pest of this type, chemicals can be a great alternative, since there is a large amount of insecticides on the market, with the power to exterminate many kinds of beetles. Of course, these products must be handled with extreme care, since the level of toxicity can affect the health of both people and pets.

The availability of these products may vary, depending on where you live, but you can go to a local garden center or agricultural extension office, and consult the chemical or organic insecticides that you can use to solve this problem. beetles.

As for organic products, these have become very popular in recent years, since they are made from products of nature, such as trees and plants. Many of them have been considered a great success in the control of different insect pests, including beetles, and among the most used we have neem oil, pyrethrum, rotenone and spiny.

Traps and mechanical disinsection systems

The extermination of the beetles by mechanical means can be a quite effective alternative for the control of some spices.

In view of the fact that some species can tolerate the action of certain insecticides, it is possible to remove them from the plant itself. However, it is important to use protective gloves, because, as we have seen before, there are some species capable of inflicting damage through their bite or other defense systems.

On the other hand, it is possible to remove some species of bugs through a hose wash, although this method needs to be complemented with other strategies to prevent future infestations. Also, you can use the traps that some pest control companies have designed especially for the control of these animals.

Natural predators

In addition to the above methods, there are some organisms that we can use to control certain species of beetles. For example, there are the so-called nematodes, predatory bacteria that are ingested by beetles in adulthood and then act as a stomach virus, killing pests from within. There are also predatory wasps and some types of birds that feed on bugs like these, although it can be somewhat complicated to attract the desired predators.

Home remedies to eradicate beetles

If you are looking for a simpler and more natural method to eliminate these insects, do not forget to try the home remedies that we have shared with you.

Mint and laurel infusion

The smell of mint and laurel is a great natural repellent against these bugs. To take advantage of its benefits, you should only make an infusion with these herbs and let it rest for two days. Then, you should pour the liquid into a spray bottle and spray it through all the spaces where the beetles are usually, emphasizing the outdoor areas, gardens and orchards. You will achieve a naturally flavored space and the bugs will never return to your home anymore.

Water and soap

This remedy is a fairly simple and accessible solution. Just mix a little water and dish soap, pour the liquid into a bottle with spray and spray it on the beetles, this will leave them dehydrated and die in a jiffy, easier, impossible!

More tricks to get rid of beetles

In case the home remedies have not been enough, maybe these tricks will help you solve the problem of the beetles once and for all.

Diatomaceous earth

A very effective alternative to kill these insects is diatomaceous earth, since this product affects the mouth, throat and vision of insects, causing their death. You only have to sprinkle it in your garden and in the areas frequented by these bichillos and you will see that, sooner rather than later, the problem will be solved.

White vinegar

Vinegar is a natural repellent that works not only against beetles, but also against many other pests. It is a non-toxic alternative and very easy to get in the super, in fact, you may already have a little at home. To use it, you should just pour a little in a container with spray and then spray it on the beetles, until they die.

Well, now that you know everything you should about these bugs, we hope you can solve the problem with the help of the tricks and advice that we have given you here.