What is this? Is it a burying beetle? - Ask Extension
We found two of these on the ceiling in my daughter’s bedroom....she just returned from college in Ohio and was still unpacking.
Knowledgebase
What is this? Is it a burying beetle? #558457
Asked May 05, 2019, 8:49 AM EDT
We found two of these on the ceiling in my daughter’s bedroom....she just returned from college in Ohio and was still unpacking.
Bergen County New Jersey
Expert Response
The insect in the photo is a species of soft-winged flower beetle (Anthocomus equestris) which has no official common name, although Eurasian red-and-black melyrid has been suggested.
This species is sometimes found in buildings, especially bathrooms, during the
spring and early summer, and that's about all we know for sure. The
larvae are unknown but are likely
either predators or feed on fungus like other related species. The
adults are feed on pollen and/or nectar at flowers and do not bite.
The beetles are not a pest, or only a pest because of they're presence.
However, the presence of the beetles may be an
indicator of a different underlying problem, either some kind of insect
pest (if the larvae are predators) or mold (if they feed on fungus).
For
more information, please see this fact
sheet.
Thank you! This was very helpful!!
Thank you! This was very helpful!!
Thank you! This was very helpful!!
