Elizabeth City is known as the "Harbor of Hospitality." Here you'll find quaint homes situated under large shade trees, cozy coffeehouses, specialty shops, and quaint bookstores. If people care to stop and listen long enough, they might hear stories about pirates and maybe even some complaints about a local pest. Tales of the common ground beetle might bloom into a hot topic of conversation without proper pest control in Elizabeth City.
Is This A Ground Beetle?
Ground beetles make up one of the largest groups of beetles roaming around North America. When determining if you are battling a ground beetle in Elizabeth City, homeowners need to look for specific characteristics.
Five identifying characteristics of ground beetle include:
- A dark shiny brown/black (some species have bright colors) coloration that often has an iridescent quality
- A body that tends to be flat and measures between 1/8 to 1/2 inch
- A head (with noticeable jaws) that is narrow compared to its neck
- Wing covers with vertical ridges
- Antennae and skinny legs
Identification of the type of beetle pestering you is the first step to ending your irritant. The second step is using Albemarle Termite & Pest Control to evaluate your pest problem and offer solutions for effective removal.
Do Ground Beetles Prefer The Indoors Or Outdoors?
Ground beetles in Elizabeth City prefer living outdoors and are most active at night. They typically hide under loose bark, stones, logs, mulch, and leaves during the day. They rarely fly but quickly move when disturbed. Ground beetles feed on insects and small invertebrates when they feed at night. Some are attracted to outdoor lighting and often wander into homes by mistake through open doors and windows, small cracks, and crevices in your foundation or siding.
Areas ground beetles hide when they wander inside include:
- Damp areas like basements and crawl spaces
- Under objects on the floor
- Under boxes
The excellent news about ground beetles in Elizabeth City is that they are not harmful; at most, people might get a pinch when they handle them. Ground Beetles certainly can be a nuisance within Elizabeth City homes, necessitating the help of a pest professional like Albemarle Termite & Pest Control.
Ground Beetle Eggs And Larvae: How To Spot Them
Because ground beetles spend much of their time in the soil, they are sometimes difficult to spot. Gardens, landscaped ground, forests, meadows, and shorelines are all places they dwell. When a female lays her eggs, she typically deposits 30 to 600 of them on top of soil or leaves and within the soil's cracks and cervices.
Eggs have the following characteristics:
- They are small
- They are white
- They are oval-shaped
- They usually lay in clusters
When the eggs hatch, ground beetle larvae resemble centipedes that are long and have brown/black flattened bodies, six legs, and pincers on their heads. They typically stay in the soil and feed off other pests in the garden. Once they've had enough food, they move into the pupa stage until they later emerge as adults. When adults inadvertently find themselves inside, they can become a nuisance within Elizabeth City homes and require some help from the pest professionals at Albemarle Termite & Pest Control.
Total Beetle Control For Elizabeth City Residents
Total beetle control equates to using proven pest control methods that protect both the inside and outside of your home. Albemarle Termite & Pest Control is a company with three generations of pest experience at their disposal. Our 100 years of combined pest experience means we've seen it all. For exceptional service, personalized service, and competitive pricing, call Albemarle Termite & Pest Control today to get started and to learn more about our residential and commercial pest control services in Elizabeth City.