Over the last couple of weeks, I've found 5 beetles wandering about in my house. 4 on the 2nd floor and one in the first floor bathroom, suprisingly, none on the ground floor.
They're quite big. 1/2" in size and black. I really don't like sharing my bed with these critters and I can't think where they might be coming from. They can't have all flown in through the window can they?
Has anyone got any ideas of where I should be looking or what might be attracting them?
Your roof void could be harbouring them. Did you have birds nesting in your eaves or on the roof itself?
Ugh, don't tell me I'm going to have to venture in to the loft? It's dark up there!
I have to say, I don't look up there much. I haven't noticed any accumulated droppings on the floor (that's a sign of a nest, right?)
Last year, a pidgeon kept fluttering past the bedroom windows, I wondered if it was nesting. Is that too long ago to be significant?
The beetles are probably feeding on a corpse - have you seen your next door neighbour recently?
Pigeons last year would be a bit to long ago I'd have thought, so something more recent than that really. Have the pigeons returns? Maybe not to the same spot in the roof space though. It may even be bats or other types of bird nesting that could be somewhere in the loft space or another void that is open to them.
Beetles are the types of things you also find around rotting wood, depending on their type of course, so it might be a sign of a small yet un-noticed leak or dry mould somewhere.
Not knowing what type of beetle they are for sure, so the diagnosis is only coming from things that it could be that attract beetles.
Bedbugs? Do they have pointy faces? Ever noticed any specs of blood in your bed?
Are you attatched to any other houses they could be coming from there?
On the other hand its probably seasonal, but I havnt noticed any, green slugs on the other hand...
I've had a look around the web, and the beetles I've seen look frightningly similar to these critters...
If you're trying to make me feel better about this infestation, it isn't working.
Besides, I keep all my dead bodies in the freezer and that's in the basement.
They sound to me like what we used to call "black beetles" - unimaginatively :-) Sometimes "Black Clocks". Whatever they are, they're harmless. They're not in your bed (they wouldn't want to share it with you). They're very small compared with you, they don't sting or bite and aren't vectors for disease. If you look at them closely you'll see that they're very beautiful.
What's your problem?
Mary
You might want to see what your local council's pest control dept has to say about them (have you kept a specimen?). They usually provide reasonably cost effective eradication services too.
HTH,
Alex.
It's a black beetle for heaven's sake. They don't pose any harm at all to humans. Leave them alone and marvel at the beauty of nature.
IMO its worth finding out more if they are bothering the OP (which is seems they are). At least then you might have an idea why they are appearing in the house on the 1st & 2nd floors.
There are five so far, which is no problem to anyone, if there were more on the way then they might become a nuisance, hence eradication info might be desirable.
Its a question of scale really and of the location of the marvels of nature.
Alex
Oh dear what a shame. Some strange nature phobia perhaps?
No, not desirable at all. If there is a real problem, then you prevent them getting in, not kill them.
I've asked in what way they're bothering him - no reply as yet.
Mary
Yes - we noticed! Bloody hell, you've done it now ....
For chrissake Mary -- I wish I were half as effing perfect as you are:
3 of every 4 posts you make (here and elsewhere) are full of smug little lectures to people on how they ought to improve themselves, and how 'this', 'that' or 'the other' has never bothered _you_, or how _you_ have been doing it for years, or how people might like to emulate your own perfect little life in some way or another.Did it ever occur to you that the Original Poster might have a phobia for insects, beetles, or whatever?
Did it ever occur to you that he might actually love beetles, but not in those numbers, and not in his flipping bedroom?
Do you have no phobias? (i.e. unreasoning horror of a particular thing)? Ah yes you do: you can't stand people not coming up to your own standards, can you. What did you do before you retired? Headmistress in a private Girls' Finishing School?
"Hope this helps"
John
p.s. to the OP: check that page where you found your beetle picture: ... you may not have sufficient night light discipline!
There there, calm down ... it's not good for you to get hot and bothered you know :-)
And have you replied like this to Andy by the way? Sauce for the goose ...
Mary
Mary asked a simple question. "In what way are they bothering S/He/it?"
How is that offensive in any way?
I have a phobia of criminals, but I don't advocate killing every one on sight.
FIVE?
Hmm ... OK agree with that if feasible, and assuming they are coming from outside. But...
What if the source of the of the beetles is something within the building or fabric of the building, rotten timber or something else for example. If removal of habitat is no feasible then eradication /might/ be the answer.
We have some very old beams with some very big flight holes, uninhabited for many years, but if active I would not wan't whatever was in them dropping on me whilst I am sleeping - phobia or not.
Also, might need to know more about habitat pref's etc of said unidentified beetle to understand likeley entry points etc etc.
Alex.
things have made nests. They aren't a pest, as it says on the site you linked to, but they can breed and make life hell if they have a constant food supply. They also return to places where they have not been disturbed, for their breeding cycle. It might be a good idea to have a look around for a recent birds nest or squirrel lair around the house.
Have you noticed any fox runs anywhere around your property?
In what way?
Mary
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