Identifying brown beetles by appearance calls for information on characteristic traits. Beetle detectives will find here a compact table of the characteristics of five common brown-bodied species in Germany. In informative short portraits, in-depth facts can be read for a correct identification of the beetle.

The banded sting beetle is easily distinguished from other beetles by its sting

Table of Contents

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  1. the essentials in brief
  2. 5 brown beetle species
  3. Small brown grain weevil
  4. Little brown potato beetle
  5. Big brown weevil
  6. With long feelers
  7. Beetle with a sting
  8. frequently asked Questions

    9. the essentials in brief

    • Small brown beetles are often the 2.5-5mm elongated grain weevil (indoors) or the 7-15mm thick oval yellowish-brown with black stripes Colorado potato beetle (in the garden).
    • Large brown beetles are mostly 8-26 mm slender longhorns with long antennae (indoors) or 10-14 mm oval pine weevils (in gardens).
    • In Germany, the brown sting beetle is often a 5.5-8.5 mm large sting beetle, a harmless nuisance in the garden.

    Identify brown bugs - 5 common species

    Identifying brown beetles in Germany requires important information and the instincts of a detective. The following table lists significant characteristics of five native brown beetles:

    Identify brown beetles grain weevil Colorado potato beetle pine weevil house goat Banded Sting Beetle
    size 2.5-5mm 7-15mm 10-14mm 8-26mm 5.5-8.5mm
    body shape elongated, cylindrical thick, roundish-oval oval elongated, slender streamlined
    Color elytra Brown brown-yellow, light-brown dark grey-brown brown, black-brown black-brown
    Special feature with trunk with black stripes with trunk with long antennae with spike
    activity nocturnal diurnal diurnal diurnal and nocturnal diurnal
    status storage pest pest wood pest wood pest nuisance
    location in the kitchen in the garden on trees, shrubs in the house in the garden
    botanical name Sitophilus granarius Leptinotarsa decemlineata Hylobius abietis Hylotrupes bajulus Variimorda villosa
    middle name none Colorado beetle Big brown weevil woodworm none
    beetle family weevil leaf beetle weevil longhorn beetle sting beetle

    Is there a first name for the correct beetle identification? Then read the following short portraits with further hints that confirm your suspicion.

    Small brown beetle - determine grain weevil

    Grain weevils are typical storage pests

    Grain weevils cannot survive outside in Germany. This does not prevent the brown mini beetles from contaminating dry supplies in the apartment, such as grain, pasta, oatmeal or muesli. In addition to the characteristics in the table above, the grain weevil can be recognized by a shiny brown pronotum with elongated dots.

    tips

    If a small brown bug jumps in the bed, you are sharing your bed with fleas. The pests are 1-3.5 mm small, yellowish-brown and have a body that is flattened on the sides. Do you suffer from itching, reddish stitches and pustules on your skin at the same time? Then you should take immediate measures to combat the nasty vermin in the house.

    Small brown beetle in stripes - unmask the Colorado potato beetle

    Its conspicuous warning behavior makes the Colorado potato beetle unmistakable. The body is thickly arched and is supported by six orange-brown legs. The light brown to yellowish elytra are decorated with black stripes. Another clue to the beetle identity is an orange pronotum with black spots. The tentacles are bright orange with black tips.

    Large brown beetle - spot pine weevil

    The spruce weevil causes great damage in the forest

    When a large brown beetle spreads fear and terror in Germany's forests, the spruce weevil is on its way. The pest primarily targets softwood and plays in a league with the bark beetle. A large brown weevil with armor-like, brown elytra with yellow stripes of slightly raised scales is easy to identify. In general, the entire back of the beetle is noticeably rough with dots.

    digression

    Brown stink bug is a bug

    If a brown bug stinks in the house, the marbled stink bug will pay you a visit. In fact, the imported Asian bug is easily confused with a real beetle. A 15 mm body, brown-grey marbled back, black and white patterned side edges and ringed, long antennae characterize the appearance. Halyomorpha halys become a nuisance in the apartment in the autumn when they are looking for a winter quarters. Anyone who now reaches for the fly swatter will feel the foul-smelling defense weapon of the beasts. Marbled stink bugs therefore have the apt middle name stink beetle.

    Brown beetle with long antennae - identify house longhorn

    Determining a house longhorn accurately is part of the basics of pest science. The brown beetle with the long antennae is also known as the woodworm for good reason. Adult beetles and voracious larvae tirelessly bore through roof beams, wooden floors and wooden furniture in the apartment. Two pairs of white hair spots on the densely hairy back and thickened thighs near the body help to identify the beetle.

    Admire the majestic longhorn beetle in the video below:

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    Brown beetle with sting - Identify the sting beetle

    The banded sting beetle is representative of the species-rich family of sting beetles. Apart from the characteristic spine on the abdomen, another feature serves as an identification aid. Sting beetles ensure cheerfulness in the garden with tumbling movements. When trying to catch the lively brown beetle in the garden, the insect flees with lightning-fast individual leaps. With each individual jump, the sting beetle changes direction, height and width. This creates the impression of a forward movement made up of numerous twisted somersaults with somersault character.

    frequently asked Questions

    Countless fat, round beetles with white, black or yellow dots sit on our balcony. Which bugs are these?

    If hordes of fat, round beetles gather on the balcony or the wall of the house, they are usually Asian lady beetles (Harmonia axyridis). The trademark of the immigrated beetles are dots on their backs. Numerous color variations can be admired. Often represented are orange-brown elytra with black dots. Black-brown wings with yellow dots or yellowish-brown wings with white dots are nice to look at. There is no cause for concern, as the harlequin beetles are simply sunbathing in search of winter quarters.

    A small brown bug with brown stripes is flying around the kitchen. What kind of beetle is it?

    Bread beetles love pastries

    According to your description, it is very likely a bread beetle (Stegobium paniceum). The dreaded stored product pest is to be identified on an oval body measuring 2 to 3 mm. Striking are brown, dotted longitudinal stripes on the red-brown elytra. Please immediately subject your dry supplies in the kitchen to a thorough check for possible pest infestation.

    Can a brown bug with a stinger sting people or pets?

    No. The sting of this beetle has the function of a ovipositor. Female sting beetles dig a hole in rotten wood to lay their eggs. The harmless brown bugs have no interest in biting humans or pets. Even if a bad-tempered lady bug tries, the blunt stinger is incapable of injuring human skin.

    tips

    It is a common misconception that beetles cannot fly in Germany. In fact, Mother Nature endowed most bugs with four wings. Membranous, filigree wings rest under two hard elytra. When a brown beetle activates its flying apparatus, the wing covers rise and make room for the skin wings to unfold. In contrast, bugs need to stay on the ground, like the large, brown American bug beetle.

Category:

Animals in the garden