Pest Control Guide - Beetles in Indiana, Kentucky, & Illinois

Beetles can cause significant damage to wood, carpet, and other organic materials in the home. They also create disruptive noise at night, and leave dead bodies throughout the home, and damage landscaping, plants, and trees. Common species include:

• The box elder bug is about ½" in length.
• It is black with red lines on It's wings.
• Feeds on the leaves and seeds of box elder and maple trees.
• Becomes a pest in fall and spring when it over winters in homes and other structures.

• Box Elder Bugs can be controlled by exclusion. Sealing up entry points will discourage the bugs from entering the structure.
• Treatment to the exterior perimeter of the home or property where the box elder bugs are resting will also prevent them from entering the structure.
• Treating trees where the box elder bugs are emerging is also possible if the trees are located on the property to be treated.

• Carpet beetles are 1/16"-1/8" in length.
• Carpet beetles are multi-colored and include black, white and orange.
• Carpet beetle are round in shape.
• Carpet beetle larvae feed on natural fibers including animal hides.
• Carpet beetle adults feed on plants.
• Carpet beetle adults are highly attracted to light and finding dead carpet beetles in window frames is common

• Carpet Beetles are similar in treatment as fleas.
• Carpet Beetles treatments include treating all carpeted areas of the structure as well as perimeter treatments to rooms that do not have carpet.
• Inspecting old fabrics and even animal taxidermy is critical.
• Remove all animals and turn off and cover all aquariums.
• A residual insecticide in conjunction with an insect growth regulator must be used for carpet beetles. Damage may be visible to items and removal of the item may be necessary.
• It is necessary to remove items from the floor and vacuum as much as possible before the treatment.
• Adult beetles do not feed on fabric and homes will often have some adult beetles located around window sills.

• Lady Beetles are 1/32" to 3/8' in length.
• They are reddish orange with various numbers of black spots.
• These are an introduced species not native to North America.
• They are used to control aphids growing on plants.
• They are a major pest in the fall and spring when they will over winter in structures in very large numbers.

• Exclusion is the best control method for lady beetles.
• On warm winter days inspect the exterior of the structure to locate entry points.
• Seal all entry points.
• Seal around window and doors especially around attics.
• Place mesh screen on chimney to prevent nesting there.
• Once in the home vacuum adult lady beetles around window and doors and release outdoors of dispose of.

• Ground beetles vary greatly in size. They can be anywhere from 1/16" to 3/8" in length.
• Most ground beetles are black but some species have green elytra (wing covers) and several shades of black.
• They live and develop in soil and emerge at night to hunt for food. Ground beetles are highly attracted to light.

• Treat the exterior perimeter of the structure with a liquid insecticide.
• Granule insecticides may also be used.
• Treat the expansion joint around the perimeter of the structure where ground beetles hide during the day.
• Exclusion is critical with ground beetles and windows and doors should be sealed properly
• Exterior lighting should be left off as these insects are highly attracted to light. If lighting is necessary use sodium vapor lighting.
• Treatments in basements and garages will also help control ground beetles once they enter a structure.

Related Pages

• Crickets
• Beetles