Beetles belong to the order Coleoptera and make up the largest group of insects in the world. There are approximately 350,000 to 450,000 species, accounting for 25% of all animals on the planet and 40% of the insect world.
In North America, over 30,000 species exist, with 10 major beetle families accounting for roughly 70% of all beetles found north of Mexico. They have adapted to live in every habitat except the harshest and coldest environments.
Our experts can identify and treat any beetle problem.
Call (866) 326-2847Size: 0.8-18mm | Family: Coccinelidae | Diet: Aphids, soft-bodied insects
Beneficial predators in gardens. Omnivorous, feeding on aphids, beetle larvae, and leaves. Over 450 species in North America. Most common variety has bright red shell with black dots, but also come in black, orange, yellow, and brown. Some species like squash beetle and Mexican bean beetle can damage crops.
Size: ~6mm | Family: Curculionoidea | Diet: Grains, crops, plants
The most common beetle with nearly 100,000 species (2,500 in US/Canada). Identified by large snouts. Usually brown, black, or green. One of the most destructive beetles, causing extensive crop damage and contaminating stored grains. Common household pantry pest destroying grains, cereals, and oats.
Size: 1.5-160mm | Family: Scarabaeidae | Species: 30,000+ worldwide, 1,400 in US
Famous from ancient Egypt, representing the sun god Ra. Mostly shiny and metallic with oval bodies. Unique antennae detect smells and pheromones. Rugged front legs help dig habitats. Feed on carrion, feces, and decaying matter. Some species are damaging garden pests.
Size: 5-30mm
ID: Brown/black, some metallic
Diet: Only feces
Found burrowing in animal excrement
Size: 12-25mm
ID: Reddish brown to black
Diet: Grains, crops
Swarm around lights, damage fruits
Size: ~15mm
ID: Copper wings, green body
Diet: 300+ plant species
Invasive, extremely destructive, excellent fliers
Size: 50-85mm
ID: Large horn on males
Diet: Fruit (herbivore)
Among largest beetles, harmless to humans
Size: 1.7-3cm
ID: Bright orange with black dots
Diet: Grapevine leaves
Fast flyer, minimal damage
Size: ~3.2cm
ID: Shiny green, orange sides
Diet: Decaying food
Common in Southwest, found in compost
Size: 1-66mm | Family: Carabidae | Species: 40,000 worldwide, 2,000 in N. America
Most common color is shiny/metallic black. Often mistaken for cockroaches. Found under rocks, leaves, and debris. Have ridged wing covers and create violent defensive excretions. Hunters that feed on ants, snails, slugs, and worms.
Size: 10-20mm
ID: Metallic shells, curved jaws
Can reach 5.5 mph when hunting
Size: <2.5cm
ID: Black and red
Shoot boiling caustic chemicals from tail
Size: 25-35mm
ID: Metallic green wings, blue body
Hunt caterpillars, squirt rancid-smelling oil
Size: 1-35mm | Family: Chrysomelidae | Species: 37,000 worldwide, 2,000 in N. America
Herbivores that feed primarily on leaves but also consume stems, flowers, pollen, shoots, seeds, and roots. In large numbers, they devastate plants. Slow-moving but produce poisonous defensive chemicals from their mouths.
Size: 6-11mm
ID: Orange/yellow with 10 black stripes
Damage nightshade family: tomatoes, potatoes, eggplant, peppers
Size: 8-13mm
ID: Bright yellow with black stripes
Adults eat leaves, grubs eat roots. Spread plant pathogens.
Size: 6-8mm
ID: Bright red with black legs
Destroy lily leaves and flowers
Family: Dermestidae | Diet: Dead animal/plant matter, fabrics
Size: 10-25mm
Also called flesh-eating or taxidermy beetles. Used to clean bones. Can digest keratin found in hair, skin, and nails. Black, brown, or red.
Size: 3-5mm
Larvae cause damage (not adults) to carpeting, wool, linens, clothing. Larval stage can last up to 3 years. About 200 species, most common has black oval shell.
Size: 3-80mm | Family: Buprestidae | Species: 700+ in N. America
Shiny wood-boring beetles shaped like bullets. Metallic green, blue, purple, copper, or black. Extremely destructive wood borers. Unlike other wood borers, they attack live trees, causing enough damage to kill them.
Size: 26-32mm | ID: Bright metallic green
Extremely invasive species that devastates forests quickly. No natural predators. Larvae burrow under bark and sever the tree's vascular system, causing death in short time.
Size: 2mm-6cm | Family: Cerambycidae | Species: ~900 in US/Canada
Named for extremely long antennae. Larvae are wood borers (like termites) causing destruction of thousands of dying trees. Can increase forest fire risk. Larvae can lay dormant in wooden pallets and crates, spreading to new locations.
Size: 40-65mm | Feed on pines and coniferous trees. Camouflaged coloration. Found in dense forests. Damage timber making it unusable commercially.
Size: 9-30mm
ID: Black with orange spots
Bury into dead animals to consume flesh and lay eggs. 20+ species in N. America.
Size: 1-35mm
ID: Short wings, 6-7 abdominal segments
63,000 species globally, 4,100 in N. America. Found in humid environments.
Size: 2.25-3.5mm
ID: Brown, cylindrical, hairy
Also called biscuit/bread beetles. Feed on dried goods, paper, leather, spices.
Size: 5-12cm
ID: Large pincers like stag horns
1,200 species. Feed on sap and soft insects. Generally gentle but defend with jaws.
Size: 1.5-28mm
ID: Elongated soft red wings
Beneficial, eat aphids and caterpillars. Secrete toxic cantharidin defense.
Size: ~2.5cm
ID: Leathery wings, dark color
Secrete cantharidin that blisters human skin. 7,500+ species.
Size: ~2.5cm
ID: Bioluminescent flash
2,000+ species. Use light to communicate with mates and deter predators.
Size: 2-3cm
ID: Loud clicking when jumping
Legs act like springboards, jump up to 1 foot. Classified as destructive pests.
Size: ~18mm
ID: Oval black body, clubbed antennae
Live in water, swim in circles when threatened. 700+ species.
If beetles are becoming bothersome or damaging, call EcoGuard Pest Management. Our trained experts can ensure your beetle problem is addressed so common household beetles in closets and pantries are dealt with quickly and effectively.
Weevils are the most common beetle with over 100,000 species worldwide. They belong to the family Curculionoidea and are identified by their long snouts. Found on every continent except Antarctica, they vary in shape, size, and color.
Over 350,000 to 400,000 documented species exist worldwide, with that number still increasing. Beetles are the most prolific insect and largest group in the animal kingdom, accounting for roughly 40% of all insects and 25% of the animal kingdom.
Beetles belong to the order Coleoptera (meaning "sheathed wing" in Greek). They are identified by hardened wing covers called elytra that cover their wings and thorax. This is the primary distinguishing feature of beetles.
