Click beetles are a lesser-known beetle species active all over the United States. Once you've come in contact with a click beetle, you're unlikely to forget it since they get their name from the clicking sound they make as they launch themselves into the air.
Although these pests are more funny than threatening, if you start finding click beetles in or around your home, you might wonder how they got there and what problems they might cause. If you want to know how to get rid of click beetles in home settings, you'll find the following information helpful.
The Unique Characteristics Of A Click Beetle
Depending on the specific species, adult click beetles can range in size from about half an inch to two inches in length. They have long black or brown bodies made up of a head, thorax, and abdomen. The eastern eyed click beetle is probably the easiest of the click beetle species to identify due to the two large black circles rimmed in white on their thorax. These dots look like big eyes on the pest, giving it a slightly comical appearance. Other click beetles do not have these spots.
Click beetles go through four stages of development: Egg, larvae, pupa, and adult. Female adult click beetles lay eggs in the soil around the base of plants. Click beetle larvae are also called wireworms.
A click beetle's most unique characteristic is its ability to catapult itself a few inches into the air. When they are on their backs, click beetles bend their segmented bodies to snap a spine into a notch on their abdomen. When released, a loud clicking sound occurs, and the beetle is launched into the air so that it can flip itself right side up.
The Problem With Click Beetle Infestations
If you start finding click beetles in or around your home, you might begin to worry or have questions. Are click beetles harmful to humans? Will they hurt your pets or cause problems in your house? The good news is that a click beetle infestation will not harm your family, your pets, or your home.
Click beetles are much more of a nuisance pest than anything else. Of course, you don't want them in your house, but you don't have to worry about being injured or sickened by them if you find them inside, nor do you have to be concerned about them damaging your home.
There are two big problems with a click beetle infestation. The first is that they are a nuisance. No one wants to find bugs all over their house, so discovering a bunch of click beetles inside will quickly become old.
The second problem with click beetles is that they can damage your plants. Click beetles lay their eggs in the soil, and once hatched, the larvae will eat the roots of nearby plants. Over time this can damage or even kill your plants.
Thankfully, these unique insects are, for the most part, just a pest and nothing to be overly concerned about.
Practical Tips To Prevent Click Beetles Around Your Home
Even though they won't cause major problems in your home, you still don't want click beetles moving in with you. These local pests are occasional invaders. They usually get into your house because the conditions are more favorable inside than outside. Sometimes they just get inside accidentally. Either way, you don't want them there.
The following practical tips will help prevent click beetles from getting into your house.
- Seal gaps, cracks, and crevices around the outside of your home.
- Fix any gaps around your doors and windows.
- Turn off your outdoor lights at night. Click beetles are nocturnal and attracted to light.
These suggestions are simple to implement and will make a big difference in keeping click beetles and other pests from invading your house.
The Most Effective Way To Get Rid Of Click Beetles
If you've made a positive click beetle identification of the pests you've found in your house, you'll want to know the best way to get rid of them. The experts at Miche Pest Control are available with our high-quality pest control services. We know how to safely and effectively eliminate click beetles from your home. Contact us today to learn more about our residential and commercial pest control services by calling or scheduling an appointment online.