Brass beetle

Niptus hololeucus

The brass beetle owes its German name to its appearance: it is spherical, between 2.5 and 4.5 mm long, brown and covered with long golden-yellow hairs. The brass beetle is considered to be a pest of storage and materials. Dried plant parts such as straw or tobacco, grain, grain products, baked goods or dried fruit are attacked. It occurs in half-timbered houses and old buildings, where the species can reproduce in the plant filling material of false ceilings. The brass beetle can also cause damage by eating holes in various textiles. The female lays 20-30 eggs, from which the larvae hatch after 2-4 weeks. The duration of larval development depends on the temperature, type and quantity of food available. Normally only 1 generation per year, in well-heated rooms even two. Beetles are very agile, move around in the dark, shy of light and have a preference for moisture. During the day they hide in floor and ceiling cavities. In contrast to other beetle species, the fully developed animal is the main pest.