While Larder Beetles are not harmful to humans in that they do not transmit diseases or bite or sting, the presence of larder beetle larvae could contaminate food and animal products (furs, hides, taxidermy mounts). Is it possible that we are witnessing a species in the process of changing to become a more accurate mimic?When you come down to it, there's no such thing as a species, in the sense of a fixed representative of an animal's permanent form; everything is in flux, shifting towards more and more successful variations on their form. The life cycle of larder beetles … Today, larder beetles may be a pest in stored foods but are more likely to be only an annoyance because of their presence in the house. It's hardly their fault that they have found a wonderful source of those things in your kitchen.These beetles may be found year-round in your house if the infestation is severe enough, but typically they will appear in numbers when the weather starts to warm up. The first specimen was collected in Allentown, PA in 1998.Number 2 is probably the most relevant to you, unless you are a large-scale farmer. The adults overwinter in bark crevices, buildings, and other sheltered places. They feed on boxelder trees and many other plants.Boxelder bugs hibernate in sheltered spots. The information contained within may not be the most current and accurate depending on when it is accessed.
In the spring, adults are attracted to areas that have suitable food. They are related to both boxelder bugs and stink bugs, and have similar habits (for similar reasons). These butterflies typically have a bright-orange upperside, but the underside of the wings is camouflaged to blend in perfectly with bark or dead leaves. It would be so cool to hang around for another million years or so and see what these insects all look like then!There are many other kinds of insects that you might encounter early in the spring—these are just a few. These flies are completely stingless and cannot hurt you at all, but it's difficult for even experienced naturalists to actually catch one in their hands without a twinge of apprehension. They will also feed on dead animal matter, such as dead boxelder bugs, attic flies or mice that may be in the innerwall spaces of the house. These bites are a little mysterious, since they are not the result of an overt threat to the insect. Larder beetles have evolved to find and eat organic matter of all kinds, from seeds to carrion. In general, these are flies that look like bees.