Click beetles are those small brown bugs that make a weird clicking sound when they flip themselves over. While they might startle you with their sudden snapping noise, these beetles are completely harmless. They don’t bite, sting, or damage your home. However, nobody wants bugs clicking around their house all night!
These beetles usually end up inside because they’re attracted to your lights or trying to escape cold weather outside. The good news is that getting rid of click beetles is pretty straightforward once you know what works. This guide will show you some proven methods for how to get rid of click beetles, from quick fixes to long term solutions.
1. Vacuum Them Up Immediately
The fastest way to deal with click beetles is to simply vacuum them up when you see them. This method works great because it gets rid of the problem right away without using any chemicals.
Grab your regular vacuum cleaner or a handheld vacuum and suck up any beetles you spot. Pay special attention to areas where they like to hang out, like near windows, lights, corners, and along baseboards. You’ll often find them gathered around lamps or light fixtures since that’s what attracted them in the first place.
After vacuuming, make sure to throw away the vacuum bag or empty the canister contents into your outdoor trash right away. You don’t want any beetles crawling back out! This approach is completely safe around kids and pets, and it gives you immediate relief from the clicking sounds.
2. Seal Entry Points and Cracks
One of the best ways to stop click beetles from getting inside is to block their entry routes. These bugs are surprisingly good at squeezing through tiny gaps, so you’ll need to be thorough.
Walk around your home and look for cracks or gaps around doors, windows, and your foundation. Use caulk to seal up any openings you find, especially near outdoor lights where beetles tend to gather. Check your window screens too and repair or replace any that have holes.
Install door sweeps under your exterior doors to close the gap between the door and the floor. Weatherstripping around windows and doors also helps create a tight seal. This method not only keeps click beetles out but also helps with other pests and can even save energy on heating and cooling costs.
3. Reduce Outdoor Lighting Attraction
Since click beetles are drawn to lights like moths to a flame, changing your outdoor lighting setup can make a huge difference. This is one of the most effective long term solutions for getting rid of click beetles.
Turn off unnecessary outdoor lights at night, especially porch lights and pathway lighting. When you do need outdoor lighting, replace regular white bulbs with yellow or sodium vapor lights. These types of bulbs are much less attractive to insects but still provide plenty of light for safety and security.
Motion sensor lights work great because they only come on when needed instead of staying on all night. Also, close your curtains and blinds after dark to prevent indoor light from attracting beetles to your windows. If you must keep certain outdoor lights on, consider adding shields or covers that direct the light downward rather than spreading it in all directions.
4. Apply Diatomaceous Earth (Food Grade)
- Kills fleas, ants, roaches, and more
- Includes powder duster for easy, targeted application
- Works indoors and outdoors, long-lasting when dry
- 100% pure, food-grade, safe around pets and kids
Diatomaceous earth is a natural white powder that works amazingly well against click beetles. It’s made from tiny fossilized sea creatures and is completely safe around people and pets when you use the food grade version.
The powder works by getting on the beetles’ bodies and damaging their outer shell, which causes them to dry out and die. Sprinkle food grade diatomaceous earth around entry points like doorways, along baseboards, and in cracks where you’ve seen beetles. Focus on the areas where they travel most often.
You’ll need to reapply the powder after cleaning or if it gets wet from rain or humidity. When applying it, wear a simple dust mask to avoid breathing in the fine particles. This method is great because it provides ongoing protection and is safe to use throughout your home.
5. Use Cedar Oil as a Natural Repellent
Cedar oil is an excellent natural solution that both repels click beetles and kills them on contact. This essential oil works by disrupting the beetles’ ability to breathe and causing them to lose moisture.
Mix four tablespoons of cedarwood essential oil with one gallon of water in a spray bottle. Spray this mixture around entry points, windowsills, door frames, and anywhere you’ve noticed beetle activity. The cedar scent is pleasant to humans but beetles can’t stand it.
You can safely use this spray both inside and outside your home. Reapply every few days or after it rains to maintain effectiveness. Cedar oil won’t harm beneficial insects like bees, making it an environmentally friendly choice for how to get rid of click beetles around your garden areas.
6. Install Sticky Traps in Problem Areas
- Attracts gnats, fruit flies, and house flies using blue and UV light
- Mess-free adhesive cartridge for easy and hygienic disposal
- Silent, odorless operation perfect for kitchens and bedrooms
- Plug-in design works 24/7 to catch flying insects indoors
Sticky traps are a simple and chemical free way to catch click beetles as they move around your home. These traps work especially well in areas where you can’t easily vacuum or spray.
Place adhesive traps along baseboards, in corners, and near windows where you’ve seen beetle activity. Look for traps designed for crawling insects rather than flying ones. The beetles will get stuck when they walk across the sticky surface.
Check your traps regularly and replace them when they get full or lose their stickiness. Position them in darker areas where beetles might hide during the day, since they’re most active at night. Monitoring your traps also helps you figure out which areas of your home have the biggest problems.
7. Apply Beneficial Nematodes to Outdoor Soil
Getting rid of click beetles long term means dealing with their babies, called wireworms, that live in the soil around your home. Beneficial nematodes are tiny worms that hunt down and kill these beetle larvae naturally.
Purchase Heterorhabditis bacteriophora or Steinernema carpocapsae nematodes from a garden center or online supplier. Mix them with water according to the package directions and apply to moist soil around your foundation and garden areas. These microscopic helpers will seek out wireworms and eliminate them before they can turn into adult beetles.
Water the area before and after applying nematodes for the best results. Apply them during cool parts of the day like early morning or evening when the sun won’t harm them. This method takes a few weeks to show results but provides excellent long term control.
8. Remove Outdoor Attractants and Breeding Sites
Click beetles love areas with lots of organic matter where they can lay eggs and their larvae can feed. Cleaning up your yard removes these attractive conditions and makes your property less appealing to beetles.
Clear away debris, dead plants, and mulch from around your home’s foundation. Remove rotting logs, brush piles, and decaying organic matter that might be near your house. Keep a clean zone of about three feet around your foundation where there’s no vegetation or debris.
Maintain your lawn by keeping grass cut short and gardens well weeded. Fix any moisture problems like leaky outdoor faucets or areas where water pools after rain. Store firewood away from your house and keep it off the ground on a rack. These steps make your property much less attractive to beetles looking for places to live and breed.
9. Call Professional Pest Control Services
Sometimes the do it yourself approach isn’t enough, especially if you’re dealing with large numbers of beetles or they keep coming back despite your efforts. Professional pest control can provide stronger solutions and guarantees.
Pest control companies have access to professional grade treatments that aren’t available to homeowners. They can apply barrier sprays around your home’s perimeter that create a protective zone beetles won’t cross. Many professionals use integrated pest management approaches that combine several different methods for maximum effectiveness.
Consider calling in the pros if beetles are getting into your electronics, if you’re seeing them daily despite trying other methods, or if the problem is causing significant stress. Most reputable companies provide guarantees on their work and will return for follow up treatments if needed.
The Bottom Line
Getting rid of click beetles doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive. Start with the immediate solutions like vacuuming them up and sealing entry points, then work on longer term prevention by reducing outdoor lighting and applying natural treatments.
Most homeowners find that combining two or three of these methods works better than relying on just one approach. Remember, click beetles are harmless but addressing the problem quickly prevents it from getting worse. With a little persistence and the right techniques, you can enjoy a click free home all year round.
