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A swarm of bugs infiltrated the home of a family in Caloocan, crawling on the floors, walls, and ceiling amid the sustained rains recently.
In Kuya Kim’s report on “24 Oras,” Wednesday, the family did not mind the bugs at first, but became concerned as they continued to increase. They are especially scared for their one-year-old child.
“Maybe it could go inside the ear. Because it’s too small, you wouldn’t feel it,” said Erwin Caluag, the father, in Filipino.
The bugs are a type of beetle, insects part of the group coleoptera. There are more than 400,000 beetle species on the planet and are considered one of the biggest groups of animals in the world.
Some beetles are known to fly or known to produce light like the firefly, while others are known for their strength like the rhinoceros beetle.
There are possible two types of beetles found in Erwin’s home: the cigarette beetle or lasioderma serricorne, and the drug store beetle or stegobium paniceum.
“Those two species are very prevalent in post-harvest products,” Hernandez said.
The beetles were already likely in their post-larval stage. Since the rains have started, the high relative humidity has created a sustained damp environment, providing ideal conditions for the insects.
Erwin and his family did a general cleaning in their home, which succeeded in driving the bugs away.
To avoid insects at home this rainy season, cover possible entry points like walls, cracks, or windows. If there are broken screens, fix them quickly.
If there is accumulated water due to the rains, immediately clean or remove it because it can attract insects. Dehumidifiers also help, as insects need moisture to live. —Nika Roque/MGP, GMA News
