- Who is the skin beetle?
- The carpet beetle bites
- Types of carpet beetles Kapra beetle
- Spotted leather beetle
- Ham skin beetle
- Fur coat beetle
- Carpet beetle
- Brown leather beetle
- Smirnova beetle, Frisha, flower beetle
Eaten fur coats, boots, jackets, furniture chewed through labyrinthine passages and many other damaged things in the house. This is due to an unfamiliar tenacious and voracious beetle - the fur coat beetle. This is a common and dangerous pest that lives in apartments and houses and is difficult to get rid of.
Who is the skin beetle?
Nature is inhabited by 600 species of leather beetles, which are classified as coleopteran insects. 7 species are dangerous pests.
The bugs are not small - the body length is 0.3-1.2 cm, on which hairs or stripes are visible. Color black, brown or spotted. The speed of movement is low, it flies weakly, if you touch the bug, it will turn over with its paws up. The voracious brown larvae are covered with long hairs.
Skin beetles are attracted to human housing by dry air, available food and polluted premises. The food of skin beetles is animal and plant organic matter; they easily chew through paper and plastic packaging. In human homes, bugs feed on natural fabrics, wood and food scraps.
The “children” of the leather beetle eat non-stop, feeding on fur, down and leather, wool, silk and felt. They chew books, cables, and feed on wallpaper and parquet. These insects are carriers of infection, parasitic worm eggs, and also bite, leaving red spots on human skin.
The carpet beetle bites
The bite of the skin beetle is painful and often dangerous - infection with parasites. For people with sensitive skin it will appear as bright red spots, for others it will appear as small harmless dots. The larvae spread the viral infection wherever they crawl. To get rid of it, you need to clear the room of both the bug and the eggs.
Skin beetle bites are painful for children and women. If a skin beetle has bitten you, use a disinfectant or hydrogen peroxide or alcohol to treat the bite site. An allergic reaction is relieved with an antihistamine. For quick healing, use a moisturizer if there is no infection. If inflammation appears, you should see a doctor.
Types of skin beetles
To recognize the dangerous pests in the bugs crawling around your apartment, it is worth learning about the common types of skin beetles.
Kapra beetle
The nylon beetle (also called the grain beetle) has a 3 mm oval brown body and light hairs. The 5 mm larvae have red-brown hairs. For habitat it chooses cereals, nuts and dried fruits, loves meat and cheese products. The beetle is a carrier of infection. Lives more often in warm climates.
Spotted leather beetle
The spotted beetle is a leather beetle with an elongated light brown body of 9 millimeters. The larvae have a brown back, reddish-brown head and hairs.
The spotted skin beetle chooses the corpse of a mammal to live in; these bugs clean the bones for the museum. In the apartment, the larvae eat meat, fish, cheese, and milk powder.
Ham skin beetle
Ham skin beetles are oblong, a centimeter long, black in color with yellow hairs, and equipped with gray-yellow wings. The dark brown larvae have brown hairs on their bodies.
They choose open food products and do not refuse to chew wooden objects. The insect is prolific and easily penetrates living spaces.
Fur coat beetle
Harmless fur coat beetles choose dusty apartments because dust is food for them, just like human food. Doesn't eat fur coats. Oval, 6 mm body with a black head and chest, and brown elytra with white hairs or spots.
Carpet beetle
For 2-5 mm carpet beetle larvae, the treat includes carpets, dead human skin particles on bedding, crumbs, cat hair, as well as fur, skin and dust.
In addition, the larvae feed on feathers and down from pillows. The bug is brown or black in color; the adult insect uses up the reserve accumulated in the larval stage for life.
Brown leather beetle
The museum leather beetle, also known as the brownie, chooses indoor flowers and books for its habitat. Having settled in the museum, he chooses stuffed animals, leather book bindings, natural fabrics and paintings. Rarely found in residential areas. A beetle with an oval body of 3.5 mm, with black elytra and yellow hairs.
Smirnova beetle, Frisha, flower beetle
The 3 mm Smirnov beetle has a brown back. For living he chooses old wooden window frames and window sills.
Frisch's little black beetle rarely settles in apartments. If it appears, it chooses food.
The flower beetle is found on garden plants.
Signs of the appearance of wingless soldier bugs in the garden
Knowing what soldier bugs look like and what signs can be used to determine their presence, a summer resident can take measures to protect his crop. Here are the signs you shouldn't ignore:
- the plants' buds and flowers began to fall off;
- yellow spots appear and leaves die on the cabbage;
- plants from the umbrella family dry out quickly;
- the tops on the beets began to curl and dry out.
It is important to pay attention to these factors. In addition, you can see one or several individuals basking in the sun. Since this is their usual habit, it is worth inspecting all areas and tree trunks for these insects or their larvae. And remember that even a small number of bedbugs will cause great harm to the farm. Therefore, the sooner measures are taken, the better.
How the leather beetle gets into human housing
In warm weather, bugs secretly penetrate into the apartment, where it is often trashy and dirty:
- They fly into an open window or window;
- Hiding in purchased furniture from an infected room, clothes and shoes;
- With indoor plants or on a bouquet;
- Brought in by shoes or clothes when coming from the street;
- Food contaminated with larvae is brought into the apartment;
- They will crawl from the balcony, use cracks, ventilation or garbage chutes.
How does the skin beetle reproduce and develop?
The development of the larva to an adult insect lasts 12 months.
The female beetle lays eggs in cracks and on top of objects 5 times a year, over 100 eggs in a lifetime. The larvae hatch in 2-50 days, this is influenced by dry air and temperature - the warmer and drier, the sooner the appearance.
The larva molts 6-7 times in 5-9 days, then becomes a pupa, from which an adult insect emerges. This takes 60-90 days. Before pupation, the larvae gnaw out 10 cm labyrinthine passages in inedible objects.
It is interesting that with the onset of unfavorable conditions, the larvae fall into torpor for up to 4 years, and upon emergence they continue to develop. Adult beetles can spend the same amount of time without feeding and still reproduce.
What does the Italian bedbug look like - Italian bedbug graphosoma lineatum
The striped stink bug or Italian bug belongs to the genus Graphozoma, which contains only a few species. Lined scale and Italian scale are included in this genus. And by the way, they are so similar that only specialists can tell them apart. Ordinary people, having encountered one of these insects in their area, would rather call them a tiger bug or a minke bug because of their characteristic color. The insect is red to yellow-brown in color with longitudinal black stripes, similar to the uniform of the Vatican Guards - hence the name.
OUR READERS RECOMMEND! In the fight against bedbugs, our readers recommend the Pest-Reject repeller. Electromagnetic and ultrasonic technology is 100% effective against bedbugs, cockroaches and other insects. Absolutely safe, environmentally friendly product for humans and pets. Read more here...
In terms of body structure, it is a classic shield insect with a dense chitinous shell that protects the vulnerable parts of the insect. The head is triangular in shape with two antennae exposed like antennae. The bug feeds only on plant sap (because of this property it is necessary to combat it), for which it has a thin but durable proboscis. And the Italian moves with the help of 3 pairs of strong legs.
The Italian bug also has a pair of wings and is capable of covering considerable distances in one breath. But the insect never flees through the air; it always relies on a strong chitinous shield and bright coloring, warning everyone around about the scent glands it possesses.
The mating period for these insects begins after wintering, when it gets warmer, not earlier than May. Gathering in large groups, they choose a partner and the females lay 6 eggs in 2 rows. The eggs visually resemble miniature barrels. The hotter the climate, the faster the larvae will hatch. In the southern region, this may take about 6 days, and in the northern region, it may take a month before the insects hatch.
How dangerous is the Italian bedbug?
To answer this question, first of all, it is worth understanding the benefits and harms of the Italian stink bug, and only then think about how to get rid of it and what methods of control are suitable.
The insect feeds on the juice of crops of the umbrella family. And these are: sow, dill, parsley, carrots. At the same time, the plant itself does not suffer at all, only there is an opinion that the seeds from those plants where the Italian bug has visited then do not germinate. Another part of gardeners claims that this type of insect does not affect the quality of seeds in any way, since it treats the plant very carefully. Considering the fact that a very small percentage of gardeners are engaged in growing umbrella seeds, we can consider this insect practically harmless.
But there are situations when the number of Italian stink bugs in the area becomes enormous, then it is necessary to take measures, again, if this makes sense.
OUR READERS RECOMMEND! To get rid of BUGS, our readers recommend the Pest-Reject repeller. The operation of the device is based on the technology of electromagnetic pulses and ultrasonic waves! Absolutely safe, environmentally friendly product for humans and pets. Read more here...
Where does the Italian bug live and what causes it?
The Italian bug has a fairly wide habitat and although it is generally accepted that this is a heat-loving insect, it is found not only in the southern region of Europe, but also in the central and middle latitudes close to the north.
Habitat: creeks, garden plots, bushes, in a word, any non-forested area where the flora of the umbrella family grows abundantly. It may appear in an apartment only by chance, in a basket with harvest brought from the garden.
How to get rid of the leather beetle
It is difficult to fight the beetle because it is tenacious. If it appears, you will have to check rooms and objects for many years, taking preventive measures.
Physical method:
- vacuum cleaner daily, cleaning or replacing the bag; it is better if the vacuum cleaner has a water filter;
- carry out general cleaning with a special disinfectant;
- treat surfaces and hard-to-reach places using a steam generator;
- open windows in winter 2 times a week;
- throw away heavily contaminated items or freeze for 4-5 hours, boiling and washing are allowed;
- clean carpets and upholstered furniture.
Carpet beetles do not like the smell of lemon balm, tansy and lavender.
What to do if insects don't go away
If carpet beetles remain a problem in your home, there are other great ways to get rid of these insects without calling a pest control professional or using pesticides. Below are the main methods.
Use peppermint oil
Are mosquitoes, ants or even spiders a nuisance in your home? Not only will peppermint get rid of such insects, but it will also make your home smell nice with its sweet aroma. Add eight drops of natural peppermint oil to a glass of water, pour into a spray bottle, shake, and then spray around vents, doorways and windows.
Use diatomaceous earth
Diatomaceous earth is made from single-celled algae that have been fossilized and ground up. If your home has been invaded by stink bugs, flies, bed bugs, beetles and spiders; Diatomaceous earth will help you. It is not harmful to humans, but is lethal to small, black, hard-shelled beetles inside the home. It only takes 48 hours after this black carpet beetle's exoskeleton comes into contact with it for the insects to dehydrate and die.
Chemicals against skin beetle
Powdered boric acid or Borax treatment. The same drugs, in bags, are laid out between clothes on shelves for 4 hours, placed in pockets. It is useful to add "Tetrix" or "Executioner". Then the things should be washed and dried.
From aerosols they are treated with “Dichlorvos”, “Difox” or other spraying agents, applying after 1.5-2 weeks.
Anti-moth preparations are used as an additional remedy.
Use a fumigator.
Using Velcro traps or the pharmaceutical product “Parmethrin”.
Preventive measures
Simple rules will prevent the arrival of skin beetles. First of all, close the places where insects enter, and pack items made from natural fabrics and fur. Hide bulk products under sealed lids. Treat waste collection areas and pet hair.
Wash clothes regularly, wash floors using a disinfectant or vinegar, and clean carpets with hot steam. Throw away or burn damaged items. Inspect cabinets, inside bedside tables, and the bottom and back of furniture more often.
Where to look for them?
In general, skin beetle larvae are very secretive insects. Unless absolutely necessary, they do not get out of their hiding places, do not crawl into open places and do not get noticed. The bulk of them spend almost their entire larval age in places where people not only don’t look, but where they can’t even get to.
For example, during processing we most often found skin beetle larvae in the following places:
- Gaps behind baseboards near kitchen tables
- Floors under the edges of linoleum under stoves, refrigerators and tables - food crumbs often roll in here
- Cabinets with things, especially wool and fur
- Closets and cabinets with forgotten food supplies
- Natural fabric bedding
- Sleeping places – beds and sofas
Litter on the floor with traces of feeding by carpet beetle larvae
It is very important to understand that the larvae that you notice somewhere in the open, actively crawling, are only individual individuals. The bulk of their counterparts are located somewhere where it is very difficult to look, and where they can only be found by moving furniture, dismantling the bed, or removing the baseboard. Therefore, you should not expect that by crushing several of these pests, you will get rid of all the skin beetles in the house.
On a note
But adult beetles can be found almost anywhere in the apartment. They actively fly and crawl in search of sexual partners and places for laying eggs, and on such wanderings they very often catch the eye. At each such meeting, the bugs must be destroyed so that at least these individuals do not reproduce in any way.
