Pest Control Fact Sheets

Larder and Hide Beetles

How to spot them

These beetles are the same shape and size, about 6-12 millimetres long, and dark brown to black in colour, but their markings vary:

Larder beetle - has a greyish band with black flecks across its back
Hide beetle - has a few white scales on its back and is silvery white underneath

Facts about larder and hide beetles

They eat and breed in dry animal proteins, and will eat almost any animal matter, which is dry or decomposing, and sometimes vegetable matter as well. They are a common pest in tanneries, hide and skin warehouses, and premises where meat, bones and pet food are handled
The adult beetles fly well and may be seen around the house, but infestations normally start either in kitchens where food scraps have built up, in birds nests or occasionally under floors where a rat or mouse has died. They may also attack hides and fur coats
They rarely cause much damage in the home

What you can do

Remove any waste food
Thoroughly clean the kitchen and any other food storage areas
Pull out equipment and clean areas that might not be cleaned regularly
Spray the area with an insect spray for use with crawling insects. Try to get one with a 'residual' effect. Make sure that it is suitable for use in food rooms (the can should tell you this). Always read the label of an insecticide before deciding to buy it - and follow the safety precautions during use
Check stocks of dry foodstuffs such as dry pet food or packet foods. Look for signs of damage or infestation
Put any infested foodstuffs into the outside refuse bin
Check any fur coats or leather goods that have not been used for some time for signs of damage. Dispose of or have treated any damaged items
Check the loft space and make sure that there are no bird nests that might be harbouring the beetles. If there are, carefully remove and dispose of them and thoroughly spray the area with a 'residual' crawling insect spray
You may need to repeat the spray treatment in a few weeks because some insects were pupating at the time of the first treatment. Repeat as often as you see live adult insects and larvae

Service we provide

We offer a free identification service. You will need to catch the insect, seal it securely in a clear plastic container labelled with your name, address and telephone number. You can contact us for a suitable container.

You should then send it us by post at the address shown below or you can take it to one of the following offices:

Barking Office: Barking Learning Centre, 2 Town Square, Barking, IG11 7NB|

Dagenham Office: Housing Enquiries Office, 2 Stour Road, Dagenham, RM10 7JF|

Our qualified pest officers will identify it and let you know what it is. We recommend that you treat for hide and larder beetles yourself. However our pest control officers can visit and treat using an insecticide spray pesticide for which there is a charge.

Charges

For information about charges please contact Barking and Dagenham Direct.

Methods of payment

Cash - the exact amount as no change can be given
Cheque - supported by a Cheque Guarantee Card
Credit Card - by telephone when booking the appointment

Important: If you are paying by cash and do not have the exact amount, please note that treatment will not be carried out.

Please note: We require 24 hours notice to cancel an appointment. If you fail to keep an appointment and do not notify us at least 24 hours before, a £10 fee will be incurred. No further service will be provided until this fee has been paid.