Tips and Tricks for Successful Exterminate Beetles in Your Living Space

You know summer is around the bend if you live in New Jersey. All your hard work outside will be rewarded with colorful flowers from your garden. It’s a great time for barbecues, splashing in the pool, and having quality time with family and friends. Ironically, you’re not the only one ready for fun in the sun. Extermination of beetles starts with prevention.

Since we know the warmer weather is a kickoff for thousands of bugs and insects, we can prepare beforehand. Did you know that beetles, weevils, and fireflies compose the most significant order of the insect world? Shockingly, scientists have identified approximately 400,000 species of beetles. They range in size from the impressive Titan beetle, measuring up to nearly seven inches, to ones smaller than a grain of sand.

Countless beetle species are beneficial, as they help pollinate plants and kill insect pests. The playful ladybug is perhaps the most well-known gardener’s friend. However, many other beetle species are pests that can destroy vegetation and even infest your home. The last thing you want is carpet beetles munching on your expensive rugs.

Tricks to Exterminate Beetles from Your Home

1. Garlic is a Powerful Defense

The smell and taste of delectable spices cooking in the kitchen are enticing to you, but they’re repulsive to invading insects, like the beetles you want to exterminate. While lasagna and spaghetti could never be the same without garlic, the spicy nature of this plant can be deadly to a beetle. Peel and crush a few fresh garlic cloves and add them to a water-filled spray bottle.

For extra protection, you could add crushed hot peppers or a generous sprinkle of ground cayenne pepper to the mixture. Spray this concoction anywhere you have a problem with beetles. They can’t stand the taste or smell and will leave the area where you release the spray.

Essential oils are another natural method of deterring beetle pests. If you have pets or a family member who has allergies, research the safest oils to use around them. Add vodka and a few drops of your favorite essential oils to a spray bottle and lightly spray on live bugs or where they gather. You may also blend oils for a signature smell you enjoy but insects can’t stand. Here are some delightful scents to consider:

Peppermint
Lavender
Citronella
Cedarwood
Sweet Basil
Lemon Grass
Geranium
Clove
Sweet Orange

Natural sprays are pleasant and generally harmless. You can spray as often as you like, and the harmful beetle population will decrease significantly. Of course, this method works best on carpet beetles rather than spraying this mixture around your food products.

3. Use Simple Beetle Traps

Check out the simple but effective beetle traps in your local department store or garden center. These inexpensive traps are especially helpful. These traps contain a scent or pheromone that attracts the male beetles into the jar, and they can’t escape.

Fewer males mean less beetle reproduction and hopefully a reduction in their numbers. While it might be annoying to have a trap in your home for a few days, if it can help the problem, it’s worth putting up with the inconvenience.

4. Vacuum Frequently

If you’re battling carpet beetles, one of the simplest but most effective things you can do is to run the vacuum cleaner frequently. The vacuum’s suction power is no match for the small size of a beetle. As you work the machine, they will fill the collection cup allowing you to remove them from your home. After running the sweeper:

Take the sweeper outside.
Remove the dust cup.
Shake the bugs into a hot, soapy water bucket to kill them.

Regular vacuuming can reduce or eliminate these smelly beetles, and it will also help to keep dust to a minimum and make your carpets cleaner.

5. Remove Their Entrances

Beetles see any cracks or crevices in your home as an open invitation to fly in and stay a while. Your home and belongings can be at risk due to the destructive nature of certain species.

Seal cracks, holes, and crevices in your foundation or the exterior of your house to keep these miniature monsters out. Seal doors and windows and repair or replace damaged screens. Check anything you bring in from the grocery store, like flour and oats for signs of an infestation.

6. Eliminate Moisture

Fix leaky pipes and put a dehumidifier in your basement or crawl spaces to make the area less appealing to these pests.

7. Use Proper Lighting

Many beetles are nocturnal and are naturally attracted to cool blue lights. They will dance around the bulbs with moths, gnats, and mosquitos, waiting to slip inside. If you have cool blue lights outdoors, consider switching to amber or yellow bulbs. These warm colors significantly deter beetles and other bothersome night bugs.

8. Use Smart Storage in the Pantry

Glass containers with tightly sealed lids are one of the best deterrents against food beetles and other thieving vermin. Sweep or clean up any spilled food immediately, and don’t store your food in plastic bags. Check your flour and cornmeal periodically for flour beetles, and discard any contaminated food. You may consider storing these staples in the freezer to keep them beetle-free.

Potatoes are vulnerable to infestation by potato beetles. Wash your potatoes well and store them in a cool place in the Pantry. Check them often for any tell-tale signs of chew marks or live bugs. Overripe fruit and vegetables are a yummy beetle treat and should be discarded immediately. Also, empty your trash daily to decrease any temptation to creepy bugs.

Battling To Exterminate Beetles this Summer

Notably, at least 204 beetle species call the Garden State their home, and five of these insects are especially damaging pests, which include carpet, earwig, Japanese, Asian, and flea beetles. Some of these species can cause structural damage to your home. They may not be capable of spreading pathogens to humans, but they can be a health risk to anyone with allergies.

Prevention is one of the best ways to defend your space against these creepy pests. When beetles move into your home and threaten your sanity, there are some defenses you can use to combat this massive problem.

1. Identification

Remember that all the beetles buzzing around in your backyard aren’t the enemy, but the ones inside your home are a whole other story. The key is learning to identify what species has moved inside your abode.

Eradicating the harmful ones can be a significant job, so you need to know what beetle you’re dealing with and the best way to go to war with this critter. You can get information on them on the web, or you can contact your local pest control professional for assistance.

2. Devising a Treatment Plan

Once you’ve identified which beetle you’re dealing with, you need to devise a treatment plan to exterminate beetles. The plan can include herbs, sprays, traps, and other devices. Some folks will immediately call a technician for assistance. Get a plan in place so that you can ensure you get the problem under control quickly.

3. Monitor the Situation

You want to ensure your plan is working, so if your actions have little to no impact, you need to switch methods. With time and patience, you can eliminate whatever beetle has invaded your living space and reclaim your home.

Call the Professionals

You don’t need to exterminate beetles alone in your New Jersey yard, garden, or home. Each year, beetles cause millions of dollars in damage in the Garden State and the rest of the country. Now is the best time to beat these bugs at their game and stop them before they get a head start. Call our team of professional exterminators, and let us discuss a beetle extermination plan that fits your needs and budget.

Our friendly and knowledgeable technicians understand that you and your family work hard to maintain your home and garden and don’t want it destroyed by pesky insects. If any beetles have crossed their boundaries, we’re here to stop them. Enjoy this summer with your loved ones and friends, and have peace of mind that you don’t need to share your space with any creepy insects.

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