The insects you have are beetles, it is hard to say if you have carpet beetles, storage pest beetles or wood boring beetles. It would be helpful if you could examine your food storage area such as a pantry for any signs of an infestation in the food packages. The other type of beetle carpet beetles can damage items such a any products that have dried organic parts such as wool clothing, furs, dried flower arrangements, feathers as examples. The last kind are wood boring beetles, The damage they cause are to wooden furniture where they leave fine power where they bored into wooden furniture.

I have attached a publication on these three types of beetles. If you can, read them and let me know if one matches the problem you have with these beetles. That you are finding them all year around means you need to try managing this pest ASAP.

Let me know if you have any additional questions.

Rich

Your note does not surprise me. Those three groups are the most common pest found in a house.

This will make it more challenging to figure it out because most likely pest now is coming from outside. Seeing the beetles will answer this. You can take the samples to your local Extension office to see if anyone there can ID them. If not, maybe we can get the specimens to me.

Just received your note and it was a surprise. If these are Elm leaf beetles and you stated earlier this has been going on for 40+ years (Is this correct?). They have been coming in from outside all this time. That you are seeing them all year long is what lead me to believe they were an internal pest. My question is, do you or your neighbor have Elm trees. I am not sure you have Elm tree beetles but have attached a link to information on control.

Elm (Ulmus)-Elm leaf beetle | Pacific Northwest Pest Management Handbooks (pnwhandbooks.org)

Let me know if you have additional questions.

Thank you for letting us help you.

Rich

Cathleen:

I have put together the following which I hope will help you keep the beetles out.

NON-CHEMICAL PEST CONTROL & MANAGEMENT

Any cracks, crevices or voids present in the structure can provide a space for the pests which provides safety/protection. Potential sites within a structure include crawlspaces, wall voids and attics and any other space existing within the structure. If these spaces have not been protected from the elements with vapor barriers, proper ventilation, and protected from leaks, if this space also provides a food and/or water source, this is where pests will not only survive but reproduce as well.

Other voids that can be found in structures are spaces that can be found between dishwashers and kitchen cabinets, refrigerators, the space behind baseboards, the area between built-in cabinets and the wall, inside appliances and furniture, or gaps on the exterior cladding. Where possible these Structural voids should be made unusable by sealing the cracks, crevices, and other pathways through these voids.

In addition to sealing cracks, and voids found within the structure you can do the following to keep pests from entering your home. Install door seals on all exterior doors, properly fitted screens on all windows. Doors and windows must be well-sealed when closed, and that all foundation and attic vents are adequately screened, sealed, and operating properly to keep the pests out.

These maintenance procedures should be performed any time of the year that you discover them. Various beetles can overwinter indoors, such as in attics and wall voids. Repair and caulk openings near elms. Remove by hand with vacuum or by sweeping up; dispose of beetles outside.

There are no traps or pesticides for specific use on these beetles.

Let me know if you have additional questions.

Thank you for letting us help you.

Rich

I would do the sealing/caulking now. As for any that may still be inside you can get rid of them knowing you have sealed the house.

Rich