As the warmer months fade, you may notice a lot more beetles trying to make their way into your house or literally appearing out of the woodwork. It's important to identify these beetles and decide what to do about them before they cause any damage. Here are few common beetle pests in Georgia - and why you don't want them in your house.
Carpet Beetle
These tiny, mite-like beetle cause dirt and damage to fabrics.
As you can imagine, any beetle with the word "carpet" in the name is bad news for your house. There are several different types of carpet beetles on the East Coast - and all of them are tiny bugs that may be mistaken for mites. They are known for laying eggs in carpets, which hatch into larva (wooly bears) that crawl around on your floor for a couple weeks. They can cause minor damage to all fabrics, but fortunately treatments and regular cleaning can usually disrupt them.
Boxelder Bug
Boxelder bugs tend to come in swarms.
During fall and winter, boxelder bugs are infamous for trying to move indoors in Southern states. These beetles typically thrive in maple, ash and elder trees. If your house gets a lot of sunlight, boxelder bugs may seek out cracks and holes to sneak inside. They don't do much damage and can't bite, but they come in hordes. Many homeowners call for pest services to lay down chemical deterrents to help keep them away.
Asian Lady Beetle
Nastier than your average ladybug.
These beetles may look like ladybugs, but they are much nastier: They tend to flee indoors during the winter and then die by your windows, creating an unpleasant odor. Keep your doors and windows carefully sealed to prevent their entry.
Powderpost Beetle
These beetles chew through your wood and leave powder behind.
There are several types of powderpost beetles all along the East Coast, and all of them are bad news. These bugs love to dig into wood, especially hardwoods. They can cause widespread damage, leaving behind fine, dry powders. Powderpost beetles can be difficult to identify, so if you suspect a problem then contact a professional inspector to make sure.
Old House Borer
These larva eat their way out of pine-like woods.
These bugs attack pine, spruce, and similar types of wood. They plant eggs which eventually turn into larva that eat their way out of the wood (creating small, distinctive clicking sounds as they go). Over time this can cause massive damage. If you see any signs of borer holes, get immediate help, because more may be waiting in your wood.
