small oval-shaped bugs

[donotforsake.livejournal.com]

Is anyone else having a problem with little oval shaped bugs (hard shell, can fly)? They are everywhere in our kitchen and getting into food. Vigilant cleaning is not seeming to help the situation - they've been around for about 2 months - though seems to be getting worse - now they are flying and landing on us too. Wondering if it's a seasonal thing, or if anyone knows what they are.

Comments

[mjperson.livejournal.com]

Check for a hidden stash of flour/grain/breadcrumbs/etc somewhere. We cleaned them out of our pantry several times, only to finally get rid of them when we discovered the broken seal on the "new" can of breadcrumbs that was sourcing them.

[lonelyholiday.livejournal.com]

This is exactly what happened in my old apartment. We had a plastic jar of something with the lid screwed on tight - and then we discovered that there was a crack in the side of it.

[ron_newman]

A photo would be helpful.

[icecreamempress.livejournal.com]

If what you have are Asian Multicolored Ladybeetles, there's some info here (http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/br/lbeetle/).

[icecreamempress.livejournal.com]

If what you have are Confused or Red Flour Beetles, there's some info here (http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/2000/2087.html).

[pensivewombat.livejournal.com]

Wait, i'm sorry: there is an actual beetle whose scientific name is "The Confused Beetle"?!!?!

YES!!!

[ron_newman]

Confused Beetles? That's really their name?

[icecreamempress.livejournal.com]

Yes, isn't that awesome?

[siderea]

That's COMPLETELY awesome! Tee! Thank you for the fact of the day.

[donotforsake.livejournal.com]

they are black - I'll post a photo when I get home. They don't have a distinct head or legs when looking at them from the top.

[head58.livejournal.com]

Are they larder beetles (http://ipmnews.msu.edu/landscape/Landscape/tabid/92/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1555/categoryId/97/Larder-beetles.aspx) maybe? We get those in our dry cat food every now and then.

[fefie.livejournal.com]

I got an influx of bugs fitting your description about a week or so ago.
Although they did not look like weevils I suspected food as source too but could not find the source after tearing my kitchen food cabinets apart. They are/were in my kitchen and home office. And not necessarily clustered in the food cabinets. They are mostly gone now (without any action on my part apart from killing off a few). They don't look like the photos people have posted so far.

I had to laugh at the name "confused" beetle. These particular critters I had were slow, even in flight. Maybe they were confused too. In fact I wondered how they have survived in the evolution sense.

[donotforsake.livejournal.com]

this sounds like them!
Some research and I think they are the cigarette beetle: http://en.allexperts.com/q/Entomology-Study-Bugs-665/x-48.htm

[fefie.livejournal.com]

yep - that page shows what i have/had.

[duneidieann.livejournal.com]

I'd say maybe Carpet Beetles which apparently are Larder Beetles like someone mentioned above, but I don't think they fly so doesn't sound like what you're after.

[canongrrl.livejournal.com]

they do fly - we had a mini infestation a year ago. You should check your clothing. A sure tell tale sign - did you find larvae husks anywhere? The larvae live off clothing, rugs, etc. So if you are finding holes on your socks - it's the beetles and not moths. these guys are amazing
http://www.greenplanetpest.com/

and even if it's not carpet beetles, they can help. They are also very fairly priced.

[bobobb.livejournal.com]

I keep a lot of dry goods (such as flour and sugar) in the freezer for this reason. We used to get these bugs a lot when I was a kid -- they come in with the food -- but keeping dry goods in the freezer seems to help.