It may happen to see it circulating in our homes, especially in warmer places or with food activities. It becomes invasive once installed and in constant reproduction.
Physionomie
- The larder beetle measures 6 to 9mm long
- Two pairs of wings are attached to the thorax, hidden by two elytra
- Dark brown or black color
- Elytra marked with a broader, lighter strip of yellowish, greyish or whitish tint
BEHAVIOR
- The larder beetle and larvae damage our foodstuffs
- Can damage wood structures, pipes, fabrics, mortar, and products made of paper
- Adult dermestes enter homes through doors and windows in the spring and early summer
- Attracted by the heat of the houses
FOOD
- The larder beetle appreciate food that contains animal fat
- Feeds on foods such as certain meats, cheese, mammalian skins, dry animal food and various insects, dead or alive
LIFE CYCLE
- Spend the winter in the shelter in the cracks of the bark of the trees
- Often found near its sources of food in the attics, inside the walls and between the roofs and in the kitchens.
- Can nest abandoned wasps’ nests, henhouses and honey bee hives
- The female lays between 100 and 200 eggs with incubation of around 12 days
The larder beetle does not sting, does not bite and does not transmit any disease. Some people may be victim of allergy because of its hairs that cause reactions.
If you find the presence of this parasite too frequent, call us without delay! An expert will be available to answer your questions and indicate the right steps to follow.