There are approximately 350,000 species of beetles in the world, and there may be more! That’s an impressive number, especially when you consider there are just 25,000 species of plants and 4,000 species of mammals!
Of course, seeing many of these beetles does not mean you need to call your local exterminators. But, it is important to be aware of which types of beetles can cause damage to your home and garden. If you see or suspect you have these types of beetles in your area you need to keep the number for the local pest control firm on speed dial!
In fact, your local pest control experts can help you understand what beetles are in your area, how dangerous they are, and what you should do to prevent them from visiting your home.
The Role Of Beetles
There is a wide variance in the way different beetles behave, that’s not surprising considering the number of species present. Beetles eat dead animals, decomposing materials, such as plants and waste, wood, and even fungi. There are even some that work as a team to move larger dead animals, effectively acting as a conveyor belt to relocate a food source.
But, they don’t generally attack living creatures, although there are a few beetles that eat other beetles and small insects.
That’s the good news, they’re not going to start eating you in your sleep!
In fact, beetles are generally considered useful as the insects they feed on are seen as pests. The waste they eat helps produce natural fertilizer for the soil, and they usually target weeds, nit the plants in your greenhouse.
The Damage Done By Beetles
Unfortunately, this is not always the case. Beetles can also cause a large amount of damage, they have strong front mandibles and can easily chew through wood or other materials. It is known that bark beetles bore through thousands of trees every year, effectively killing them.
Some species of beetle will target crops, eating huge quantities of the crop or even the stored grain. Then there are the ones that will eat the food you enjoy, such as dried vegetables, rice, and even cereal. They can be a nuisance in your food cupboards.
The carpet beetle will do as its name suggests, eat the backing of your carpets and rugs, effectively ruining them. You also need to take note of the powderpost beetle and Longhorned beetles, they eat wood and will eat your home as readily as the local trees.
This can cause serious structural issues and an expensive repair bill.
The good news is that beetle bites are extremely rare and they are not known to carry disease, although they can mechanically transmit mycobacteria. This means a bite if it happens, won’t be harmful. Of course, if you have an allergic reaction you’ll need urgent medical attention.
The bottom line is that if you think you have a beetle issue, contact the experts as soon as possible. It really is better to be safe than sorry.
