Beetle Pest Control
There are around 30,000 species of beetles in Australia. Many of these are essential to the natural ecosystem. However, there are also a number of pest beetles which can cause problems by feeding on wood, grain, organic products or food. They can be found in diverse living environments and exhibit a range of feeding habits and behaviours. Beetles can become a menace in your home as they are commonly part of the Stored Product Insect Family. This can lead to food contamination, which will make your food unfit for human consumption. Beetle Control & Treatment requires a bespoke approach suitable for the specific species being encountered.
From Preparation to Treatment
Common Beetle Questions
What are common features of beetles?
Beetles are part of the order Coleptera, which literally means “sheath wings”. Like many other insect varieties, they have 3 key parts – a head, thorax and abdomen. They also have 3 pairs of legs and 2 pairs of wings. The key differentiator is that beetles’ forewings form a hard, protective sheath that protect the delicate hindwings.
What do beetle’s like to eat?
Because there are over 300,000 species of beetles there is a great deal of variety in their diets. The most damaging beetles (including Furniture Beetles, Powderpost and the Carpet beetle) are those that feed on organic matter like carpet, wood, and other housed organics like fabric and textiles. Stores pest insects like the Larder beetle, can be found munching away on many varieties of food in your home such as, grains, rice, flour or cooked food, like cookies and bread. This leads to food contamination meaning the food must be destroyed.
Where do beetles live?
Beetles are a diverse species, which can be found in most habitats, although they particularly thrive in warm areas. Its characteristics also vary significantly. Some groups are predators while others are herbivores. Some are found mainly in the flowers where they feed on pollen and nectar, others feed on mushrooms. Still others live in wood or under the bark of trees. Pest beetles find their way indoors and feed on food or wood products.
In what ways are beetles pests?
With over 30,000 species of beetles throughout Australia, there are only a handful of varieties which are considered major pests, feeding on wood, grain, organic products or food. Beetles can cause major problems for agricultural businesses by invading storage facilities.
What are the core stages of a beetle’s development?
Most beetles move through 4 core stages of development. They go from egg, to larva, to pupa before finally becoming a fully formed insect. Very often the larvae can cause significant damage to products – such as with the Carpet Beetle – while the presence of adult beetles may simply be a sign of moisture problems.