Spider Beetle Control:

Identify, Eliminate, Prevent

Spider beetles are a persistent and often overlooked pest in commercial environments, particularly in food storage, manufacturing, and distribution facilities. Although small in size, these pests can cause significant disruption by contaminating products and damaging stored goods. Early identification and professional intervention are key to effective control.

What Are Spider Beetles?

Spider beetles are a group of small, round-bodied beetles that resemble spiders due to their long legs and humped shape. Adults typically measure between 3–4 mm in length and are most active in dark, undisturbed areas.

Common species include:

• Australian Spider Beetle – The most frequently encountered, reddish-brown and commonly found in commercial environments
• Golden Spider Beetle – Covered in golden hairs, giving it a distinctive appearance
• Globular Spider Beetle – Shiny and dark brown in colour, often found in cooler, darker spaces

These beetles are general scavengers, feeding on a wide variety of organic materials including grains, dried foods, animal products, feathers, and even old packaging or insulation. They are frequently associated with disused spaces, voids, and old bird nests.

Life Cycle and Behaviour

• Adult females can lay up to 1,000 sticky eggs, often hidden within food debris or cracks in flooring and shelving.
• The larvae are fleshy and roll into a tight coil when disturbed.
• As they prepare to pupate, larvae wander into crevices and voids, which can lead to hidden infestations.
• Adults may feign death when threatened, making visual detection more difficult.

Their ability to exploit hard-to-reach areas makes them a persistent challenge in commercial properties.

Why Spider Beetles Are a Concern for Businesses

Spider beetles may not transmit disease, but they pose serious risks in commercial settings:

• Contamination of food products and packaging
• Spoilage and product loss
• Damage to stock and stored goods
• Audit failures under standards such as BRC, SALSA, and HACCP
• Operational disruption and potential reputational harm

They are particularly problematic in environments where hygiene and product integrity are essential, such as food processing, storage facilities, and supply chain distribution centres.

Our Spider Beetle Treatment and Prevention Service

We provide a thorough, professional pest management service designed to eliminate spider beetles and prevent future infestations.

Contact: Reach out by phone or email to discuss your pest concerns. Our team will offer initial advice or schedule a visit from a trained pest control technician.

Survey: If required, we’ll conduct a detailed on-site inspection to assess the extent of the infestation and identify food sources, harbourage points, and structural vulnerabilities. A clear quote and recommendations will be provided.

Treatment: Our BPCA-certified technicians will apply a residual insecticide treatment approved for use against stored product beetles. Treatment may include multiple visits to ensure full eradication. We also provide practical advice on hygiene, proofing, and monitoring to support long-term control.

What You Can Do

In addition to professional treatment, your team can support pest management efforts by:

• Removing infested materials and cleaning storage areas thoroughly
• Inspecting hard-to-reach spaces such as under shelving, inside wall voids, and old stock areas
• Monitoring with insect traps to detect activity early
• Improving stock rotation and waste handling procedures

Preventive housekeeping is essential in any environment where stored product pests are a risk.

Need Help?

If you’ve noticed signs of spider beetles or suspect activity in your premises, speak to our pest control team today. We offer fast, discreet and effective solutions tailored to commercial environments. Our services help protect your stock, ensure compliance and maintain a pest-free operation.