With the Red-Legged Ham Beetle Kit, you can catch Red-Legged Ham Beetles with sticky traps and pheromone and food-attracting lures. There are Red-Legged Ham Beetle Kits from Insect Limited that have their signature pheromone lures in them. These lures use a pheromone mixed with food to attract Red-Legged Ham Beetles (Necrobia rufipes) for three months. The lures are paired with the Trapper Museum Monitor traps. Together, they are the recommended, field-tested, and best trapping system for these beetles. Kit or Case: Kit of 10 Traps and Lures Case of 100 Traps and Lures Quantity: Purchase.
Finding those pesky red legged ham beetles crawling around your pantry or pet food can be downright disturbing But have no fear – with the right strategies, you can get rid of these pests for good!
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore everything you need to know about controlling red legged ham beetle infestations, from identification and prevention to removal methods. Follow these tips and you’ll be ham beetle-free in no time.
Identifying Red Legged Ham Beetles
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Adults are small insects 3.5-7mm long with metallic blue-green bodies and distinctive red legs. They move quickly when disturbed.
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Larvae are about 10mm long with brownish bodies and reddish-brown heads. They feed on other insect larvae.
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Eggs are tiny, oval and white. Look for them microscopically on infested items.
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Cocoons are white silken structures about 35-7mm long where pupae develop
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They infest dried or smoked meat products, pet food, hides, cheese and more. Look for them in pantries and pet supply stores.
Signs of an Infestation
Watch for these clues that red legged ham beetles may have invaded:
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White cocoons on stored food items, in cracks and crevices, fibrous textiles etc.
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Adults and larvae crawling on ceilings, walls, shelves around infested goods.
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Small holes in food packaging, crumbs or powdery residue from them tunneling in.
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Unpleasant sweet odor from secretions they produce.
If you spot any of these, act quickly to get rid of them!
Prevention Tips
Stop them before they start with these proactive measures:
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Keep pantries and cabinets holding dried goods clean and food-crumb free.
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Eliminate moisture sources – ventilate crawl spaces, repair leaks, weed gardens etc.
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Seal cracks and crevices where they could enter.
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Store susceptible items like pet food in airtight containers.
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Use pheromone traps or visual inspections to monitor for early signs.
Non-Chemical Removal Methods
If prevention fails, try these non-toxic removal tactics first:
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Discard infested items in sealed bags. Remove all product in area for full elimination.
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Vacuum thoroughly to suck up adults, larvae and eggs. Seal and dispose of bag after.
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Clean with hot soapy water or disinfectant, concentrating on cracks and crevices.
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Set out pheromone traps like All Beetle or Flat Traps to catch them. Replace lures every 90 days.
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Monitor daily and remove any beetles manually that evade other methods.
When to Use Pesticides
Turn to pesticides only if infestation is severe and other methods failed:
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Consult a professional exterminator – don’t attempt use without proper training.
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Look for products containing cyfluthrin, deltamethrin or lambda-cyhalothrin as active ingredients.
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Carefully follow all label instructions for effective and safe application.
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Only apply pesticides as a last resort or in combination with non-chemical methods like trapping.
Why Pheromone Traps Work
Pheromone traps are highly effective for capturing red legged ham beetles thanks to:
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Special sex pheromone lures that irresistibly attract males.
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Food attractants that draw in both males and females trying to feed.
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Adhesive glue boards that seize beetles entering the traps.
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Ideal for placing out of sight under shelves, displays and equipment.
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Available as kits with pre-loaded lures lasting up to 3 months.
Tips For Successfully Using Traps
Follow these guidelines to get the most out of pheromone traps:
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Place traps in areas around suspected infestations to pinpoint problem spots.
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Use 1-2 traps per room in homes, more in commercial spaces.
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Set them along walls, in corners, under shelving – near but out of sight.
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Check traps weekly and replace glue boards when full of insects and debris.
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Replace lures every 90 days for continued effectiveness. All lures should be replaced simultaneously.
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Keep records of dates, locations and catches to identify trends.
When To Call A Pest Control Professional
If do-it-yourself removal methods don’t eliminate the infestation, it’s time to bring in the big guns:
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If multiple traps are filling up weekly and new beetles keep appearing.
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If infested items keep multiplying despite your cleaning and containment efforts.
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If you find cocoons and larvae outside your original problem area indicating a spreading issue.
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If you’re unable to locate the root source of the infestation.
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If you lack the time or physical ability for intensive removal and monitoring efforts.
Preventing Reinfestation After Removal
Getting rid of ham beetles is only half the battle – you need to prevent their return:
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Maintain meticulous sanitation and moisture control even after removal is complete.
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Continue using pheromone traps and inspections to monitor for renewed signs.
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Keep susceptible pantry items sealed airtight to deny access.
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Fill in any cracks and crevices beetles could use to re-enter.
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Follow a strict stock rotation system using older pet food, grain etc first.
Staying vigilant is key to ensuring ham beetles don’t make an unwanted comeback.
When To Toss Infested Items
It’s heartbreaking, but sometimes infested products just can’t be saved:
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Dry pet foods and treats with any sign of living beetles or larvae – discard and replace immediately. Don’t take risks with pet health.
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Packaged human foods where beetles penetrated the packaging – even if pests are removed, throw it out.
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Badly infested bags of pet food or grain with large holes and clumps – they can’t be adequately cleaned.
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Irreplaceable susceptible items like taxidermy mounts, trophies etc – call a museum/conservation expert for guidance.
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Anything with a persistent beetle odor after cleaning – the unpleasant scent can’t be removed.
Know when to cut your losses for the sake of safety and sanitation.
The Bottom Line
Although eliminating red legged ham beetles takes effort, it’s very doable with diligent trapping, cleaning and monitoring. Taking a tiered approach using prevention, non-chemical methods and pesticides only as a last resort will provide effective control.
With the guidance in this comprehensive guide, you can knock these pesky pantry pests out of your home or business for good. Just stay vigilant in order to prevent any reinfestations in the future.
Here are a few final tips for getting rid of those persistent red legged ham beetles:
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Inspect all incoming pet foods and animal feed for signs of infestation before bringing them indoors – isolate and return any suspect products immediately.
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Consider switching susceptible pet foods to beetle-resistant formulas containing yeast, mold and shellfish ingredients which deter the pests.
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For sensitive individuals, wear a protective mask and gloves during intensive cleaning of infested areas to avoid breathing in insect particles or touching residue.
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Place infested items in a freezer for 48-72 hours to kill all life stages of the beetles before discarding.
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After elimination, continue monitoring with traps and inspections monthly or quarterly as preventative maintenance.
With persistence and the right combination of tactics, you can successfully eliminate those pesky ham beetles and keep them from returning in the future!
Features and Benefits of Red-Legged Ham Beetle Kit
To get Red-Legged Ham Beetles (Necrobia rufipes) over a 3-month period, Insect Limited’s signature pheromone lures are used. These lures use a pheromone mixed into a food attractant to get the beetles. The lures are paired with the Trapper Museum Monitor traps. Together, they are the recommended, field-tested, and best trapping system for these beetles. It’s easy to put these traps on floors, under display shelves, or under equipment in places where Red-Legged Ham Beetles are common. Red-Legged Ham Beetle adults and young that are drawn to the lure get stuck in the glue as soon as they get inside the trap.
Together, the science of insect biology and the technology of a trapping system in this Red-Legged Ham Beetle Beetle Kit can help you keep an eye out for these pests in your area. In an Integrated Pest Management program, monitoring can ultimately help you reduce pest numbers.
The kit does this by
1. Telling you if the beetles are present
2. Indicating where they are coming from
3. Finally telling you whether the control measures that you have taken are working or not.
Red-Legged Ham Beetle Kit Description
With the Red-Legged Ham Beetle Kit, you can catch Red-Legged Ham Beetles with sticky traps and pheromone and food-attracting lures. Select quantity of 10 or 100.
Red Legged Ham Beetle Biology and Life Cycle
FAQ
What kills red legged ham beetles?
What kills beetles fast?
Where did the red legged ham beetle come from?
What do ham beetles eat?
What is a red-legged ham beetle?
In the popular literature, the red-legged ham beetle (RHB) is often described as a pest of dried meat. The implication seems to be that unless you are producing dried fish, hams, bacon, jerky treats, or cheese, that this insect is nothing more than an occasional invader in food processing plants.
What do red leg Ham beetles eat?
What Do Red-Legged Ham Beetle Eat? The Red-Legged Ham Beetle consumes a variety of food sources, including dried fish, eggs, coconuts, figs, the skins and bones of dead animals, cheese, bacon, palm nut kernels, guano, the eggs and larvae of certain flies, and even other Red-Legged Ham Beetles.
Where did the red leg ham beetle come from?
The origin of the Red-Legged Ham Beetle can be traced back to northern Africa, with evidence of its presence found in Egyptian mummies. Can Red-Legged Ham Beetle Fly? Adult Red-Legged Ham Beetles are active insects capable of flying. Are Red-Legged Ham Beetle Poisonous?
How long does a red leg ham beetle live?
The Red-Legged Ham Beetle has a lifespan ranging from 36 to 150 days. Do Red-Legged Ham Beetle Eat Wood? No, the Red-Legged Ham Beetle does not consume wood. It is an omnivorous predator and scavenger. What Attracts Red-Legged Ham Beetle?