I found a small oval brown bug with horizontal stripes

Question: I have found this bug that is oval in shape, six legs, goes from a light brown to a dark brown towards the end, and is banded horizontally across its back. I’ve noticed about six in the last two weeks in various places of my home. Could you please tell me what kind of bug this is?

Answer: There are several species of household beetles that are called larder beetles, and they are all in the family Dermestidae. The actual “larder beetle” (Dermesteslardarius) is a common household pest. I suspect from your description that this is probably what you have. A conclusive identification would need a specimen.

This beetle is about 1/4 inch long or a little smaller, blackish brown and with a pale yellow, horizontal stripe on the back. These beetles are usually found in kitchen cabinets or places where food is stored. The larvae and adults feed on a variety of plant and animal material.

The best control is to remove everything from the cabinets, inspect it all and discard what is infested. Then vacuum the cabinets very well. Don’t use soap and water, just vacuum, then vacuum again in a week after you have replaced the material. The soap and water just makes a paste out of loose flour or other material, and once it is a hard paste in the cracks and crevices you will never get it out, and the beetles will still be able to feed on it.

Contact your local Orkin Branch Office.

A highly trained Orkin Pest Specialist will inspect your home, make a conclusive identification and assess the problem. Your Pest Specialist will develop a customized, backed by science treatment plan to help your control these insects.

Orkin used the information above to also answer the following questions submitted by Orkin.com users:

• Question: I have searched for answers as to what kind of bug is infesting my kitchen and can’t find anything! It looks like a pill bug, and has gotten into my dry food boxes, and I see them crawling on the kitchen counter occasionally… they don’t appear to roll up in a ball or anything … just wander around. I am tired of opening unopened boxes of food and finding that these critters have already gotten in the box. What are they? And how do I get rid of them?

• Question: I am finding small brown bugs in my kitchen. They are oval shaped and are dark brown. They are very small and numerous. From what I have seen they may be a small brown beetle. What is the best way to remove them?

• Question: I can not identify this bug. It is dark brown on both ends and has a light brown band in the center. It is about 5/16 of a inch long and is 2/16 wide and rounded on top with wings, and I forgot to count the legs. I find just a few of these bugs a month and just kill them when I do. Any help would be appreciated.