Although you might not see them often because they tend to hide during the daytime, ground beetles are prevalent across Oklahoma. Ground beetles feed on weeds, beetle and moth larvae, mites and small snails, so they do perform a little bit of pest maintenance by themselves.
But don’t be fooled—what starts out as a few helpful beetles in the yard can quickly turn into a full-blown infestation. The good news is that beetle prevention is fairly easy if you’re proactive.
Keep reading to learn how you can keep off your property and out of your house.
Hire an exterminator
The best way to control ground beetles is to hire a professional exterminator. An exterminator can do two things for you: kill the current beetles on your property and prevent future beetles with an all-natural barrier spray. At Excellence Pest Control, we offer emergency removal services and monthly, bimonthly, quarterly, semiannual and annual preventative services.
Watch woodpiles
Because they provide excellent protection from birds and other predators, beetles are known to hide out in woodpiles. If you have stacks of firewood in your yard, be sure to store them at least 20 feet from your home and 5 feet off the ground. The closer the wood is to your house, the more likely you are to have an indoor infestation.
Clean up your yard
Another easy form of beetle prevention is to pick up sticks, leaves, grass clippings and any other debris from your lawn. Not only is this debris another good hideout for beetles, but it’s also a hiding spot for the pests that beetles hunt, so this easy step can prevent all sorts of pests from bothering your property.
Seal cracks
Although they tend to stay outside, ground beetles will enter your home if they’re given the opportunity—but they won’t just walk through the front door! Instead, they’ll sneak in through cracks in your foundation or under any missing weatherstripping. Sealing all of these open entryways does wonders to keep beetles outside where they belong.
Fix screen holes
Ground beetles are also known to sneak through holes in screen doors or window screens. Because they’re less than 1/16 of an inch in size, they’re capable of slipping through the smallest of holes. While you’re sealing cracks, be sure to patch up any screen holes you see to make entering your house as difficult as possible.
Tidy up inside
All sorts of pests are attracted to messy homes. Not only does a dirty house provide some cover for them, but they also know they can easily find dropped crumbs on the ground. Make a habit of vacuuming and sweeping to make your home less appealing to them.
If you spot any signs of an infestation, call an exterminator right away to nip the problem in the bud before it worsens.
Hire Excellence Pest Control today
Whether you’ve noticed ground beetles and want to get rid of them or you’d like to schedule preventative maintenance, call our pros at Excellence Pest Control. We’ll send someone out right away to get rid of your pests or ensure they never bother you in the first place!