There are a number of pests that like to invade your pantry or cupboards, but one of the more infamous ones is the larder beetle. But a larder beetle infestation isn’t limited to the kitchen and is often mistaken for carpet beetles.
Let’s look at several ways to get rid of these pests. We’ll also look at some preventative measures. Afterwards, we’ll get to know these critters better and discuss how you may be inviting infestations unknowingly.
Getting Rid of Larder Beetles
Unfortunately, once you’ve discovered a larder beetle infestation, the treatment almost always results in some form of insecticide. However, that’s not to say there aren’t some other ways to reduce the problem. This involves a multi-step process of clean, trap, and spray.
Step #1: Clean
Your first instinct is to simply throw a contaminated item in the trash, but this isn’t always the best move. Instead, clean according to the location of the infestation.
Pantry or Cupboards
Start by sifting through all items that may be contaminated. You may wish to simply throw out any packaged goods, but it’s also possible to carefully open and sift through each box looking for signs of contamination. Any non-contaminated foods should be transferred to sealable plastic containers. This includes pet foods.
If you aren’t sure whether an item is contaminated and would rather not throw it out if possible, place it in a sealable plastic baggie. Put it under quarantine for a week, then sift through it again, looking for any signs of larvae. When discarding contaminated food, be sure to immediately seal the garbage bag and take it outside to a bin with a tight-fitting lid so no larvae escape.
Carpets, Linens, or Fabrics
You can give a preliminary run over an infested carpet with a vacuum cleaner. Make sure to immediately put the bag or contents of the canister in a sealable bag and put it in a tight-lidded bin outside. If you own a steamer (one of the best pest control weapons you can own), give the carpet and any nearby furniture a good once-over.
Clothing and linens should be placed in the dryer on high heat for a couple runs. These bugs cannot survive temperatures above 130 degrees for more than two or three hours. You can also do this with plushies, pillows, or any other cloth or fur item that’s able to handle high heat. You may wish to then run them through the wash normally just to remove any corpses.
Books and Other Delicate Items
These are a lot more difficult to treat, but it isn’t impossible. One way is to place each item in a sealable freezer bag and place them in the freezer can help, but only if you have a deep freeze unit capable of lowering the temperature well below freezing. A typical kitchen refrigerator freezer will only get to about 20°F, but a chest freezer (found in many homeowner’s garages) often goes to -10 to -20°F.
Ideally, you will need to freeze an object at -20°F for 24 hours, although you may be able to leave the objects in a freezer for longer periods at slightly higher temperatures. For example, if your freezer goes down to 0°F, a few days may be necessary for full extermination.
Step #2: Trap
Keep in mind that larder beetles will hide in crevasses or burrow into wood during the pupal stage, so it’s important to lay some traps for any bugs that may be safely tucked away during the cleaning stage. This involves laying some traps around the area of infestation.
Sticky Traps
One of the best ways to take out roving bugs is the humble sticky trap. Simply put glue traps in and near areas where you’ve seen signs of infestation and let the bugs become trapped by the glue when they walk over it.
Be warned, the last thing you want is for a pet or child to come in contact with one of these traps. While it won’t harm them, you’ll have a really rough bathtime ahead of you and possibly have to give some awkward haircuts.
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Diatomaceous Earth (DE)
Food grade diatomaceous earth is a great weapon because it’s safe around humans and pets. You can sprinkle it on carpets or in your pantry or cupboards. Any emerging bugs will suffer multiple lacerations when they walk or crawl over the DE, causing them to slowly die of dehydration.
DE will need to be reapplied every couple days or if it gets wet, but can be cleaned up with a vacuum once the infestation is eradicated.
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Step #3: Spray
Technically, this step may be done at any point in the process (it’s most effective), but it’s usually best to remove anything that can be treated non-chemically first. This Is especially true of objects that might find their way into a child’s or pet’s mouth.
Unlike most bugs, you don’t necessarily need an insecticide labelled specifically for larder beetles. Any product marked for ants or carpet beetles will work effectively. This includes products that contain cyfluthrin, tetramethrin, or permethrin. Just remember that insecticides are usually toxic to your family and many leave behind residue, so be sure to follow any instructions carefully.
If you only have a few larder beetles around, a small bottle of Temprid FX is going to be cheap and enough to make multiple spray bottles of insecticide. For large infestations, Cy-Kick CS is what I’d recommend. The good thing about both products is that they’ll treat all sorts of pests (ants, roaches, spiders, mosquitoes, earwigs, etc.) for months or years to come.
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When in Doubt
Don’t be afraid to call an exterminator. They’re likely more affordable than you think, especially against a critter that will eat just about anything!
Preventing Larder Beetles
As these bugs can infest packaged goods at the factory, there’s always a risk of accidentally bringing them home. However, there are a few things you can do to reduce the risk of an infestation.
When bringing home packaged goods, transfer them to sealable plastic or glass containers. This includes bagged pet food. Never leave crumbs around the house, and check your home periodically for possible entry points.
Also, make sure to take care of any other bug infestations quickly, as larder beetles will feed on insect carcasses. Dead cluster flies are a popular food source for these critters.
Getting to Know Larder Beetles
While a number of species in the Dermestidae family bear the same nickname, the true larder beetle is Dermestes lardarius. It’s also sometimes referred to as a moisture bug, hinting at why they’re also common sights in basements and bathrooms.
Identifying Larder Beetles
There’s a good chance you’ve seen adult larder beetles before and simply didn’t identify them. They’re between 1/3 to 3/8 inches long with fine yellowish hairs on the belly and legs.
They’re typically dark brown with a large yellowish brown band across their back taking up the front half of the forewings. There are three black dots in a triangular pattern on the banded portion of each wing.
Life Cycle
The exact life cycle of a larder beetle depends upon environmental conditions. A female will lay up to 100 eggs at a time during spring or summer. She’ll usually lay them in food or nearby. Under ideal conditions, the eggs will hatch in as little as two days.
Once hatched, the voracious larvae will feed continuously until ready to enter the next stage. Depending on conditions, this could take anywhere from a month to eight months. Temperature, humidity, and food quality all play a role in how fast the larval stage ends.
When ready to pupate, the larvae will find a safe place to hide. This could mean slipping into a crack or crevice, or even burrowing up to ½ inch in books, wood, or other materials and sealing the entrance behind them. This next stage will only take one to two weeks before the adult emerges.
What Attracts Larder Beetles?
These pests will often enter homes in the spring to lay eggs or in the fall seeking warmth. They also prefer higher humidity levels. Even worse, your home is full of potential food items for larder beetles. These include:
- Books and wood pulp
- Dead bugs or other carcasses
- Dry human foods such as pasta or cereal
- Dry pet food
- Fabrics
- Hair, skin cells, or fur
- Preserved matter such as leather or wool
- Plants
Very little in your home is safe from the larvae of this critter. In fact, they’ve even been known to cause some structural damage on rare occasion!
Are Larder Bugs Dangerous?
The good news is that they’re not known to spread any diseases humans can catch and don’t bite. The bad news is that – like all bugs – there’s a small risk of causing an allergic reaction in sensitive individuals.
And the ugly news is that they can be devastating to your bank account once an infestation gets out of control. Their appetite means finding holes in a lot of your belongings, not to mention the risk of contaminating any packaged foods.
Can Larder Beetles Fly?
Yes, larder beetles can fly. Their flight ability helps them move between food sources and allows them to enter homes through open windows, doors, or other entry points, especially during spring when they’re searching for places to lay eggs or in fall when seeking warmth.
While you might occasionally spot them flying around your home, they tend to spend more time crawling along surfaces in search of food or suitable spots for laying eggs. Their wings are hidden beneath their distinctive brown-and-yellow wing covers (elytra) when not in use.
Larder Beetles vs Carpet Beetles
Both of these critters come from the Family Dermestidae. However, the larder beetle is a specific species while the term carpet beetle can mean a whole range of critters.
Morgan is a certified entomologist and pest control consultant and a member of the National Pest Management Association.
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