Beetles are one of the most common insects in Eastern Pennsylvania and are considered extremely beneficial for the environment. Nevertheless, these pesky critters can quickly overwhelm properties, and the bigger beetles often get mistaken for cockroaches.
While we refer to beetles as a single insect, there are dozens of species, including wood-burrowing beetles that damage wood, carpet beetles that snack on natural materials, and Asian lady beetles, which are considered highly invasive.
Beetles also tend to be more active in the summer and fall, so understanding what attracts them to your home will help you prevent and eliminate them for good.
This guide will help prepare you for beetle season in Pennsylvania so you don’t have to deal with the mayhem.
What is a Beetle?
The beetle is a prevalent insect, one of the most common across the globe, with many varieties, ranging in size, shape, and color. Beetles have layered wings.
The first part is a hard and thick protective shell covering the second layer, which is far more fragile. Typically, beetles have chewing mouthparts, rather than “sucking” or piercing mouths.
Beetles don’t have particularly good eyesight, but they communicate in various ways, such as pheromones, sounds, or vibrations. With such a variety, these creatures thrive just about anywhere.
Types of Beetles in Pennsylvania
There are many types of beetles in Pennsylvania that tend to infest inside and outside of homes. Here are the most common residents frequently encountered:
- Carpet Beetles: Small indoor pests whose larvae damage fabrics, carpets, and stored goods.
- Powderpost Beetles: Wood-boring insects that leave fine powder and tiny exit holes in hardwoods.
- Lady Beetles (Ladybugs & Asian Lady Beetles): Beneficial outdoors but a nuisance when swarming inside homes in fall.
- Ground Beetles: Harmless predators that control other insects but may wander indoors.
- Japanese Beetles: Metallic green beetles that skeletonize leaves and damage lawns as grubs.
Why Am I Seeing Beetles in My House?
Beetles are one of the most widespread insect groups, with 300,000 species known living in almost every environment on Earth. While they naturally thrive outdoors in soil, wood, plants, and even water, many species find their way indoors in search of food, shelter, or warmth.
Depending on the type of beetle, you may notice more activity during certain seasons, such as when they’re seeking overwintering sites in the fall or emerging in the spring.
- Food Sources: Pantry pests like flour beetles or grain beetles are attracted to stored dry goods.
- Fabric & Furniture: Carpet beetles feed on natural fibers such as wool, leather, and upholstery.
- Wood Damage: Powderpost beetles infest hardwood flooring, furniture, and trim.
- Seasonal Shelter: Lady beetles and other species often enter homes in fall to overwinter.
- Light & Warmth: Some beetles are drawn to indoor lighting and warmth during cooler months.
Which Seasons are Beetles Most Active?
Again, how active beetles tend to be correlates with the species, and often, the seasons they are most active are when they are mating. Most beetle species mate in the spring or summer, which can account for the sudden increase around your home or backyard.
Adults mate, and females tend to lay their eggs near or on a food source. Again, these actions are very dependent on the species, and this also affects how long these insects live.
In most cases, beetles don’t live for more than a year. However, their life spans can range anywhere between 13 weeks and 12 years. That’s a long time to deal with a beetle problem. Usually, big beetles live longer, and most typically hatch during summer.
Why are Beetles Important to the Ecosystem?
Beetles are more than just hard-shelled insects that buzz around the backyard. Since there is such a wide variety, they have different roles in the ecosystem, and some are more critical than others. Some beetle species help get rid of decaying matter and take care of the waste we leave behind.
Others do their part, like Ladybugs, and kill off other pests. Additionally, beetles can help pollinate flowers while decomposing and eating dead trees.
Recently, beetles have been used to cut down on weeds, which beats weed whacking. However, as helpful as these little creatures can be, some can be horrible little pests.
Why are Beetles a Problem?
While certain species like fireflies or ladybugs can be helpful, there are quite a few beetles that can cause some real damage to both your home and your garden. Carpet beetles are known for chewing away at carpets, wool, and other items in your home. They can ruin clothing, decor, and carpeting quite easily.
Woodworm or deathwatch beetles are fans of chewing away on wood and furniture, which can damage way more than just parts of your home. Wood-eating insects can cause severe structural damage if they are allowed to carry on unchecked.
Beetles don’t have to be destructive to be annoying. Asian lady beetles often trick us into believing they are their more helpful “cousin,” the ladybug, but this overwinter pest will sneak inside your home and hatch during the spring.
They can often leave foul-smelling yellow streaks on your walls, swarm near lights, and can be quite dangerous to pets. Some beetle species can bite, are poisonous, or spit acid, though these are not as common. You’re unlikely to find the latter variety hanging out in your garden.
However, beetles can be very destructive to crops and gardens. Weevils and potato beetles are especially harmful to farmers. So, while some species can help our environment, others can be quite destructive.
How to Get Rid of Beetles in Your Home
If you’re spotting beetles inside, the best first step is a thorough cleaning. Vacuum carpets, furniture, and baseboards, wash infested fabrics, and store food in airtight containers to remove what’s attracting them.
Seal cracks and repair window screens to keep new beetles from getting in. For minor issues, this may be enough, but persistent beetle activity, especially wood-boring species, often requires professional pest control to fully eliminate the problem and prevent damage.
The good news is that most beetles are more of a nuisance than a danger. Still, knowing why they’re in your home and how to respond quickly can save you time, stress, and costly repairs.
FAQs
Are beetles dangerous?
Most beetles aren’t directly harmful to people, but certain species can cause significant damage to food, fabric, or wood inside your home.
Can beetles bite?
Most common household beetles don’t bite humans; they’re mainly a nuisance and can cause property damage if left unchecked.
How do I know if I have an infestation?
Seeing multiple beetles over several days, discovering damage to food, fabrics, or wood, or spotting larvae and shed skins often signals a developing problem.
