Many homeowners in the Treasure Valley are calling in with the same alarming concern: “There are worms all over my floors, in my furniture, in the garage, even inside light fixtures and sockets.” While it looks unsettling, these “worms” are not actually worms at all. They are the larval stage of darkling beetles, commonly known as mealworms.
What Are They?
Darkling beetles are insects that lay their eggs in organic matter such as insulation, debris, or stored materials. The larvae - often mistaken for worms - are hard-bodied, yellowish-brown, and can crawl across surfaces in search of food or shelter. They thrive in attics, crawl spaces, garages, and other areas where they find warmth and organic material.
Why Are They in My Home?
These larvae often migrate from the attic or crawl space into living areas. Common entry points include:
Light fixtures and electrical sockets – they slip through openings around wiring and housing.
Garages and driveways – especially if organic debris or food sources are present.
Floors and furniture – as larvae wander in search of food, they may end up in visible areas.
It’s common to see them in late summer and early fall as populations peak and larvae seek out new places to pupate.
What Can Be Done About Them?
Professional treatment is the most effective way to eliminate darkling beetle larvae indoors. At Pestcom, our approach includes:
Attic and crawl space treatment with aerosols or ULV fogging to knock down exposed insects.
Residual dusting of voids such as light fixtures, switch boxes, and insulation surfaces for long-term control.
Interior applications such as glue traps and targeted sprays to capture and reduce those that have infiltrated living areas.
Follow-up visits on a weekly rotation to replace traps and ensure the life cycle is broken. Most infestations can be controlled within 2–3 visits, though extended service may be necessary if activity is heavy.
Indoor vs. Outdoor Treatments
Regular exterior pest services do impact many of these insects. However, elm seed bugs, darkling beetles, and other small invaders that fly directly indoors without crawling across treated surfaces may survive. When this happens, an interior service request is recommended to address the ones already inside the home.
What You Can Do
Vacuum and clean up larvae after treatments to prevent odors and secondary pests.
Report sightings so technicians can monitor trends and adjust service.
Schedule an interior service if you are seeing daily activity inside your home.
With the right layered treatment and ongoing monitoring, this problem can be resolved and kept under control.