Have you ever wanted to know how to get rid of ground beetles? Many pests can cause problems for you and your home. The ground beetle is one of them. These pests are one of the largest families on the planet, with over 3,000 species.
Under logs, rocks, and other moist spots, these shiny black bugs hide. They, like other pests, can, nevertheless, find their way inside your home. While ground beetles do not pose a health risk to humans, you should be aware of how to get rid of them if they become a nuisance.
Seeds and other pests are eaten by ground beetles. This is advantageous because the beetles control the population of other pests by feeding on them. They don’t harm gardens or lawns, but they can be a pain in the summer when they flock and invade homes.
How to Get Rid of Ground Beetles
Identification of the Ground Beetle
It’s understandable if you mix up ground beetles and cockroaches. Depending on the species, these bugs have diverse appearances. Dark brown or black are the most popular colors.
Other colors include iridescent green, metallic bronze, and speckled brown and black. Their shells can either be dull or lustrous. They all have three bodily components, notwithstanding their differences in size and color. On the sides, the thorax, and the abdomen, a small head with antennae and large eyes. These bugs don’t fly, but they make up for it by running extremely fast when disturbed.
The adults of the common ground beetle can grow to be 1/8 to 12 inches long, while the larvae are around 34 inches long. These larvae are black and segmented. Furthermore, they prey on small insects in the soil that may be beneficial to plant growth.
Lifecycle
To develop, ground beetles go through a whole metamorphosis. The female bug produces a single generation per year by laying eggs in the ground. The pupa develops into an adult, which lives for one to four years.
The entire life cycle, from egg to adulthood, can be completed in a single season. Adult beetles are most visible between April and October, when they are most active.
These bugs eat aphids, caterpillars, slugs, snails, fly worms, and other soft-bodied insects. In addition, several varieties of beetles feed on plant pollen, seeds, and shoots. Some creatures may consume four times their body weight in food.
Article: Silverfish holes in clothes
What is the cause of ground beetles?
Ground beetles are commonly found outside and do not cause structural harm. Some species, however, can produce a nasty gas or acid if they feel threatened. These bugs prefer to hunt for food at night, which may allow them to go undiscovered.
Insects like the ground beetle are attracted to lights. Bugs may enter your home through crevices, windows, or doors as a result of this. The good news is that most of these insects are incapable of reproducing indoors. This means that getting rid of the ground beetle from your home is simple.
What to Look For
Ground beetles hide in logs, rocks, and other moist areas, as previously indicated. They can also be found under mulch, leaves, wood chips, and pine straws, as their name suggests. These nests offer protection from the environment and predators, making them ideal for breeding.
Insects, on the other hand, seek better protection during heavy rain or high temperatures. This could entail relocating their hibernation places to domestic homes and structures. They can be found in basements or under objects on the floor inside homes.
Article: Bug bombs for apartments
How to Get Rid of Ground Beetles
Sanitation
If the bugs have already entered your home, thoroughly vacuuming or sweeping it will eliminate them. Move the furniture around and look for any possible hiding spots.
Another strategy to keep these bugs at bay is to keep decaying wood, mulch, and other garbage away from the foundation of your home. You can also keep your grass clean and short. These techniques prevent the insects from breeding indoors, hence reducing their population.
Ground beetles have a habit of squeezing into small areas to get access to homes. As a result, sealing all available entryways is an excellent strategy to keep ground beetles away from your home. Cracks and crevices in walls and windows are examples of this.
Lightning attracts these bugs all of the time. Change your illumination from bright white lights to yellow lights if you want to get rid of these pests. You can also reduce the amount of light you utilize. It will keep the bugs out of your home.
Natural adversaries
Another safe method of managing beetle populations is to use natural predators against them. Put up birdhouses and feeders to attract birds to your lawn. Shrews and toads can also be introduced to your garden.
Article: Bug fogger poisoning symptoms
Pesticides
If you have a serious infestation in your house, you’ll need pesticides to get rid of it. Ready-to-use spays are unlikely to work on them because of their thick skin, which makes a “crunch” sound when trodden on. For the greatest guidance on ground beetles, contact a pest control professional. Insecticides containing chlorpyrifos and pyrethroids should be used outside.
Bifen granules can be used to create a perimeter around your home. Treat the soil and mulch to create a barrier that will keep the bugs out of your home. When the insects are active, use it monthly, and every three months to entirely eliminate them.
Choose an insecticide that is both human and pest-safe for indoor use. Pyrethrins and bendiocarb-based insecticides are among them. Make careful to read and follow the label’s recommendations.
Article: What to do after bombing your house
Final Thoughts
In the natural world, ground beetles produce more help than harm. Controlling their numbers is the best required action because they pose no threat to health or property. Getting professional guidance is the way to go when it comes to deciding how you can get rid of ground beetles.
The insects are usually only found in modest quantities indoors. As a result, physically trapping them in a container or utilizing a vacuum is the simplest approach to remove them. Using sticky traps in areas where these bugs are likely to hide is another efficient way to deal with them.