Are you seeing these creatures in your home? Carpet beetles are found inside homes, warehouses, museums, and other buildings. Once inside they may cause serious damage to clothing, furs, carpets, and other stored fabric items.
Beetles with spots are some of the most visually striking insects out there. The spots on these beetles come in a variety of colors, shapes, and patterns that set them apart from other beetle species. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at some of the most common spotted beetles, what their spots mean, and where you can find them.
There are over 350,000 different species of beetle in the world, making them one of the most diverse groups of insects. While most beetles have solid elytra (hardened forewings), some specialize beetles have striking patterns of spots on their elytra and bodies.
The spots on beetles serve a few different purposes
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Camouflage: Spots can help beetles blend into their surroundings, avoiding predators. Many flower beetles have yellow spots that let them hide in plain sight on flowers.
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Mimicry: Some spots are meant to mimic the large eyes of other insects to scare away predators. This is seen in beetles like the eastern eyed click beetle.
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Warning Coloration Bright spots act as a warning to predators that a beetle may be toxic or taste bad, Ladybugs and milkweed beetles use this strategy
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Mating: Vibrant spots may help beetles find and attract mates. The grapevine beetle is thought to use its spots this way.
Spotted beetles thrive all around the world in various habitats from rainforests to deserts. Next, we’ll look at some of the most spectacular spotted beetles found across North America
Common Spotted Beetles of North America
North America is home to dozens of beetles with incredible spot patterns. Here are some of the most notable:
Ladybugs
Ladybugs, part of the Coccinellidae family, are arguably the most famous spotted beetles. There are over 450 species of ladybugs in North America alone. The most iconic is the seven-spotted ladybug with its bright red body and seven distinct black spots. But ladybugs can have anywhere from 0 to 22 spots. Their spots serve as a warning to birds and other predators that they have a foul taste.
Tiger Beetles
There are over 120 species of tiger beetle in North America. They get their name from their fast, feline-like hunting abilities. Tiger beetles have metallic green or brown bodies with bright contrasting white or yellow spots. The spots are usually concentrated at the rear of the wings. Six-spotted and twelve-spotted tiger beetles are common examples. The spots help break up their body outlines to avoid predators.
Milkweed Beetles
As their name suggests, these beetles feed exclusively on milkweed plants. They have black spots on red, orange or yellow wing covers. Milkweed beetles absorb toxic chemicals from the milkweed they eat, making them taste terrible to predators. Their colorful spotted pattern warns potential predators to stay away.
Tortoise Beetles
Tortoise beetles have rounded, dome-shaped bodies resembling tortoises. Most species are bright red, orange or yellow with dozens of black spots. The spots create an illusion of multiple eyes when the beetle pulls in its legs and antennae and becomes still. This eyespot pattern mimics insects like caterpillars and helps scare away predators.
Flea Beetles
Flea beetles are small, jumping beetles that feed on plant leaves. They come in metallic colors like green, blue or gray with white, yellow or orange spots. As their name suggests, the spots on some species resemble fleas. The eight-spotted flea beetle has four large spots on each wing cover. Their spots act as camouflage when the beetles feed on flowers and leaves.
Longhorn Beetles
This large family of beetles is recognizable by their very long antennae. There are over 350 longhorn beetle species in North America. Many longhorn beetles have yellow, white or black spots over blue, black or green wing covers. The spotted longhorn beetle may have more than 40 spots. Their spots help them blend in with flower petals and tree bark.
As this overview illustrates, beetles use spots in diverse and clever ways to thrive across North America. Next, we’ll look at how to identify some common spotted beetles if you come across them in nature.
Identifying North America’s Spotted Beetles
If you find a spotted beetle, how can you identify what species it is? Here are some key characteristics to look for:
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Number of spots: Count the number of spots to narrow it down. For example, six spots likely means a six-spotted tiger beetle.
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Spot placement: Note where the spots are located. Spots around the edges and rear often indicate a tiger beetle.
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Spot shape: Look at the size and shape of the spots. Large fused spots might mean a tortoise beetle.
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Body shape: Consider the beetle’s overall shape. A domed shell points to a tortoise beetle. Long antennae mean a longhorn beetle.
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Colors: Take note of the colors of the spots and body. Red with black means milkweed beetle. Metallic green means a tiger beetle.
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Habitat: Knowing the setting where you found the beetle offers clues. Finding one on milkweed suggests a milkweed beetle.
With some patience and this guidance, you can identify many spotted beetles you encounter in the wild. Understanding their unique beauty and adaptations is just one of the joys of exploring nature.
Spotted Beetles Are Worth Protecting
Beetles with spots brighten our landscapes with their vibrant colors and curious behaviors. But like all insects, spotted beetle species face threats from habitat loss and pesticides. We should value their beauty and their importance to healthy ecosystems.
Here are a few things we can all do to help protect spotted beetles:
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Provide habitat by planting native flowers and leaving dead wood and leaves for shelter.
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Avoid or limit pesticide use which harms beetles and their prey.
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Support parks, reserves, and other protected areas for beetles.
-Spread awareness to others about the ecological roles of beetles.
- Report sightings to catalog populations and identify threatened species.
With small actions, we can ensure spotted beetles continue dazzling us with their unique patterns and lively presence. The next time you come across one of these special insects, take a moment to admire its polka-dot wings before letting it carry on its way. Our world is far more vibrant with these beetles in it.
Are Carpet Beetles Harmful to Humans?
Not only are these tiny bugs damaging to the items in your home, but they can also cause harm to some humans.
These beetles can leave little red bumps on the skin that look like bug bites, but they are actually caused by an allergic reaction.
These bumps and rashes appear when an allergic person comes into contact with the hairs, or bristles, on the abdomen of carpet beetle larvae, or to the insect’s blood.
An allergic reaction to carpet beetle hairs may result in itchy welts that can become infected if scratching is not controlled.
If you are seeing them, there is a good chance you’re wondering if they’re harmful. Sadly, the answer is yes. They can be very harmful to your belongings. And, if you have an allergic reaction, they can also be harmful to you as well.
What do Carpet Beetles Look like?
Carpet beetles are little round bugs that are up to 3.5 centimeters long, black with a yellow and white mottling of scales on their backs, and thick yellow scales on their legs.
They look a lot like mini ladybugs but are black with yellow spots, and their larvae look hairy and brown in color.
How to Get Rid of Carpet Beetles (4 Easy Steps)
FAQ
What are the tiny beetles with dots?
1: Adult carpet beetles are small and often appear speckled or mottled. In a few weeks, the tiny eggs laid by adult beetles hatch into the fabric-consuming larvae. Larvae are about 1/8 to 1/4-inch long, tan to brownish in color, slow moving, and densely covered with hairs or bristles.
Are Devil’s Coach horse beetles harmful?
It is well known for its habit of raising its long and uncovered abdomen and opening its jaws, rather like a scorpion when threatened. Although it has no sting, it can give a painful bite with its strong, pincer-like jaws.
Are spotted lady beetles harmful?
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Not Poisonous or Disease Carriers:Asian lady beetles do not carry diseases or pose a health risk to humans.
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Can Bite:While they don’t have venom, they can bite, which feels like a light pinch.
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Smelly Liquid:When disturbed, they release a yellow liquid (hemolymph) from their leg joints, which can stain surfaces and has a bad odor.
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Nuisance Pests:They can be a nuisance because they tend to congregate in large numbers indoors, especially during the fall and spring, seeking shelter from the cold.
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Harmful to Pets:If pets consume the beetles, they can cause burns in the mouth, esophagus, stomach, and intestines, leading to symptoms like vomiting, diarrhea, and drooling.
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Not True Ladybugs:Asian lady beetles are often mistaken for true ladybugs, which are beneficial garden insects that eat aphids.
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How to Identify:Asian lady beetles have an “M” shape marking on their head where the body meets the head.
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How to Deal with Them:The best thing to do is sweep and vacuum them up, dead or alive, and avoid spraying them with insect killer.
Why am I suddenly seeing carpet beetles?
Accumulations of pet hair, dust, food debris, and organic matter can attract carpet beetles and provide ample breeding sites for their larvae.
Do beetles have spots?
Beetles are some of the typical bugs of North America, Europe, and the rest of the world. They come in different shapes, sizes, and colors. Beetles with spots can stand out among them. They can have a fixed number of spots or a variable number of spots. These types of bugs with spots feed on vegetation, flowers, or other insects.
What causes small spots of skin to sting, like a bug bite?
There are many things that can cause small spots of skin to sting, like a bug bite. Some of the most common causes include: Bug bites: Mosquitoes, fleas, bed bugs, and other insects can all cause itchy, red bumps on the skin. These bumps can sting, especially if they are scratched. Allergic reactions: Allergic reactions to certain foods, medications, or environmental allergens can also cause itchy, red bumps on the skin. These bumps can sting, especially if they are scratched. Contact dermatitis: Contact dermatitis is a skin rash that occurs when the skin comes into contact with an irritating substance, such as poison ivy, detergent, or jewelry. Contact dermatitis can cause itchy, red bumps on the skin that can sting. Insect bites: Insect bites, including those from mosquitoes, fleas, and bed bugs, can sting. The severity of the sting depends on the type of insect and the individual’s sensitivity.
What kind of beetles have black spots?
One type of beetle with black spots is the ladybug or lady beetle. These small red beetles are easily recognizable by their black spots and can fly.
What do beetles with spots eat?
These types of bugs with spots feed on vegetation, flowers, or other insects. They are found across North America, especially around woodlands and water sources such as streams and rivers. Here are some of the most common beetles with spots and the number of spots they’re known for.
What is a small red beetle with black spots that flies?
The ladybug or lady beetle is one type of small red beetle with black spots that flies. Many people refer to beetles as bugs, but true bugs are in the order Hemiptera and have sucking mouthparts, unlike beetles which have chewing mouthparts called mandibles.
How many brown spots does a beetle have?
4 brown spots are seen on the species of beetles named after their appearance. Four-spotted Sap Beetles (Glischrochilus quadrisignatus) are black with 2 brown spots on each elytra. Found across North America, Four-spotted Sap Beetles are known to like decaying plants and fruits.