Usually adequate artificial heating and ventilation will stop infestations. Most homes dry out naturally within a year or two, and the fungi disappears along with the beetles. Any action taken to dry out damp conditions supporting fungal growth, essential to these beetles, will greatly reduce or eliminate populations. Often it is difficult to locate the source of infestation since beetles may be feeding on fungi associated with neglected grains, yeast, moldy flowers, wall voids with rodent and insect nests, decaying plant materials, moldy wallpaper, freshly plastered walls, around moist window cases, or poor plumbing. Most infestations are temporary and self-limiting, but their presence is objectionable to many homeowners. Also, infestations are associated with poor ventilation, high humidity, plumbing leaks, etc. Sometimes, stored foods may become contaminated from cast skins and excreta. Larvae develop in the molds, maturing to adults later. Later, eggs are laid on food material such as poorly seasoned green lumber, wet plaster and wall board, moldy grains, etc. Beetles are attracted to lights and feed entirely on the spores and hyphae of fungi. Some beetles complete their life cycle in 25 to 36 days at 75☏, in 54 days at 65☏, or up to five months and longer at lower temperatures. However, development from egg to adult depends on temperature. Beetles often become quite abundant, especially after a period of rainy weather. Most complaints of these nuisance beetles occur in late July, August, and September. A good quality hand lens or microscope is necessary to see these characteristics. Also, most have punctures on the body and clubbed antennae. Other fungus beetles are less than 1⁄12-inch long with body color varying from yellowish to black. The body is covered with dense pubescence (short, fine hairs) and dimple-like punctures with a clubbed antennae. The foreign grain beetle is camel-brown colored and about 1⁄16-inch long with a conspicuous rounded lobe or "knob" on the four corners of the thorax (area between the head and wing covers). They are simply a nuisance by their presence and do not bite, sting, spread human diseases nor damage wood, food, fabric, etc.
#BISCUIT BEETLE VS. BROWN CARPET BEETLE VS. FUNGUS BEETLE TV#
Heavy populations may first show up trapped in bathtubs and sinks, or around lamps and TV sets. Attracted by lights, these small beetles can crawl or fly through window or door screens and then wander aimlessly.
These mold-feeding beetles sometimes are found in decaying plant material, woodpiles, mammal, ant, or termite nests, damp cereals, grains, herbs, spices, cheese, jam, jellies, fibers, and carpeting, especially in cellars. They often build heavy populations throughout late summer and early fall. Some occur in sawdust left in wall voids after construction. When new homes are built, moist uncured lumber and/or freshly plastered or papered walls that become covered with molds attract these beetles. Fungus beetles is a general term covering several different beetles associated with damp, humid conditions where fungi, molds, and mildew occur.
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