# There's a giant beetle in my basement. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 23, 2004, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-a-giant-beetle-in-my-basement/256526 "2004-07-23T15:48:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![NinjaChick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/71c47a/32.png) [@NinjaChick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinjaChick)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2004, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-a-giant-beetle-in-my-basement/256526/1 "2004-07-23T15:48:53Z")
I just had to go down to the basement to do some laundry. It’s not a finished basement. When I was little, it gave me the creeps. It’s a creepy basement that floods whenever it rains. And there are mice, sometimes. Right now, there’s an enormous beetle. It’s cruising around on the little carpeted area that I use as a workout area, but our ironing board is there, too. And I’m not joking when I say it’s huge. It’s looked about three inches long, but I was’t going to measure, because it looked evil. All sleek and black and bulbous, like a badguy’s getaway car in a science fiction movie. Only with wiggly little legs. It creeped me out, and that’s why I’m wearing a wrinkly shirt today. Any suggestions as to getting rid of it? I’m _not_ going to smoosh something that big. Messy messy messy. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2004, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-a-giant-beetle-in-my-basement/256526/2 "2004-07-23T16:06:27Z")
[THIS](http://lightning.prohosting.com/~bjgeiger/doodles/livingroom/Mothra/M3.html) is the Wee Beastie, yes? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Maastricht](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e57/32.png) [@Maastricht](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maastricht)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2004, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-a-giant-beetle-in-my-basement/256526/3 "2004-07-23T16:14:08Z")
Couldn’t it be a groundbeetle? Like [this pretty one?](http://www.habitas.org.uk/groundbeetles/7134_p.html) Their general building plan is [like this](http://www.dierinbeeld.nl/animal_files/insects/carabus/) If you’re dealing with a ground beetle, I suggest you befriend it. No, seriously: they’re very useful in getting rid of ants, termites and spiders. In my naturestudy-days, we used to catch them in little plastic coffecups we dug in the sand, and study them (and yes, we released them afterwards). These beetles run around all day and night to catch insects. If you compare the predators of the insect-world to mammals, these beetles have the method and stamina of solitary hunting wolves. Once you’ve have worked up the nerve to look at them up close, they are quite beautiful and interesting. Ground beetles are completely harmless to humans, although the beetles we caught tried to defend themselves by producing a slightly foulsmelling fluid in their observation-jars, but that didn’t deter us at all. The largest Dutch ones were 2 inches and I have no doubt they get bigger in warmer countries. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2004, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-a-giant-beetle-in-my-basement/256526/4 "2004-07-23T16:18:47Z")
Perhaps it is [THIS](http://gojistomp.org/gfacts/shokilas.html), then, if not the first. Yes? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Jenaroph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e8c25b/32.png) [@Jenaroph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jenaroph)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2004, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-a-giant-beetle-in-my-basement/256526/5 "2004-07-23T16:36:39Z")
A beetle in your basement? My dad and his college cronies managed to carry one up to their dorm roof as a prank once. Oh, not that kind of Beetle. ---
**Author:** ![Tikki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/5daacb/32.png) [@Tikki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tikki)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2004, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-a-giant-beetle-in-my-basement/256526/6 "2004-07-23T17:03:01Z")
Beetles are good bugs, with the exception of those Tokyo varieties. 🙂 Scoop him up and put him outside where he can do his benevolent insecty thing. I too would have qualms about squishing something that big anyway. Back in the day, I hated even squishing 1/2 inch cockroaches, though I seriously wanted them dead. Maastricht, that _is_ a pretty beetle. ---
**Author:** ![Celyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9dc877/32.png) [@Celyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Celyn)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2004, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-a-giant-beetle-in-my-basement/256526/7 "2004-07-23T17:18:27Z")
Giant beetles, eh? Tricky one, that. Methinks you have been reading too much Kafka. ---
**Author:** ![flamingbananas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f4b2a3/32.png) [@flamingbananas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flamingbananas)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2004, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-a-giant-beetle-in-my-basement/256526/8 "2004-07-23T17:44:05Z")
[QUOTE=Maastricht] Couldn’t it be a groundbeetle? Like [URL=http://www.habitas.org.uk/groundbeetles/7134\_p.html]this pretty one? QUOTE] THAT is the general reason why I will NEVER be on Fear Factor. I could never stand to eat something like that. The legs…and the crunchy shell and…_shudders_ ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2004, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-a-giant-beetle-in-my-basement/256526/9 "2004-07-23T17:49:49Z")
Or [THIS](http://gojistomp.org/gfacts/kamacuras.html) perhaps? You would prefer these in your Cellar Of Doom? Yes? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2004, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-a-giant-beetle-in-my-basement/256526/10 "2004-07-23T17:56:28Z")
Or, maybe you would like one of [THESE](http://photos.markaw.com/wasp.jpg) ? With the blue cheese as a side? Yes? ---
**Author:** ![Podkayne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/edb3f5/32.png) [@Podkayne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Podkayne)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2004, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-a-giant-beetle-in-my-basement/256526/11 "2004-07-23T18:01:58Z")
In order to catch it: Find a cardboard box large enough to contain the creature. Prop it up with a stick. Tie a long string to the stick. Place some tasty beetlebait under the box. Take the end of the string and hide behind a tree. (Or, like, behind the dryer or something.) Wait for the beetle to crawl under the box. Pull the string. Aaaaaaand . . . after that you’re on your own. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2004, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-a-giant-beetle-in-my-basement/256526/12 "2004-07-23T18:03:40Z")
You are not responding? You don’t see one you want? Yes? You’d enjoy [THIS](http://news.bbc.co.uk/olmedia/1930000/images/_1933375_beetle1_300.jpg) better, yes? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2004, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-a-giant-beetle-in-my-basement/256526/13 "2004-07-23T18:06:25Z")
Yuk. I hate bugs. I had an enormous beetle in my bathroom last week. It was about as big as my thumb and it was walking. I just freaked until Mr. K evicted it. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2004, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-a-giant-beetle-in-my-basement/256526/14 "2004-07-23T18:15:12Z")
> [@Podkayne](#): > > Place some tasty beetlebait under the box. MMmmmmmmm…nutritious dung! ---
**Author:** ![Tupug\_Anachi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@Tupug\_Anachi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tupug_Anachi)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2004, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-a-giant-beetle-in-my-basement/256526/15 "2004-07-23T18:22:04Z")
**Bosda** , you are cracking me up. Yes! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2004, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-a-giant-beetle-in-my-basement/256526/16 "2004-07-23T18:36:15Z")
Or, the Carport, perhaps? And [THIS](http://images.usatoday.com/money/gallery/beetle/herbie.jpg) it looks like? Yes? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2004, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-a-giant-beetle-in-my-basement/256526/17 "2004-07-23T18:41:21Z")
Or, the Carport, perhaps? And [THIS](http://images.usatoday.com/money/gallery/beetle/herbie.jpg) it looks like? Yes? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![NinjaChick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/71c47a/32.png) [@NinjaChick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinjaChick)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2004, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-a-giant-beetle-in-my-basement/256526/18 "2004-07-23T19:36:18Z")
**Bosda** , it’s definitely the second one. Big and evil and bloodthirsty, of course. And I’ve been busy battling it, which explains my lack of responses. Okay. Actually, a friend called me and told me they were having an awesome sale at a store so we went shopping. But I just went and visited and it’s still chilling down there, now by the workbench. And indeed, it does look like the aforementioned Ground Beetle. Can they fly? Because now that I’m pretty sure it’s not going to go evil and bloodsucky, I’m going to try to get it into a cup or something and let him outside. But if something that size takes off flying about the house, I’m freaking out. Alternately, I’m just gonna name him Gregor and keep him around and possibly - if he upsets me - throw an apple at him. ---
**Author:** ![Maastricht](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e57/32.png) [@Maastricht](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maastricht)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2004, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-a-giant-beetle-in-my-basement/256526/19 "2004-07-23T19:58:31Z")
> [@NinjaChick](#): > > Can they fly? Because now that I’m pretty sure it’s not going to go evil and bloodsucky, I’m going to try to get it into a cup or something and let him outside. But if something that size takes off flying about the house, I’m freaking out. > > Alternately, I’m just gonna name him Gregor and keep him around and possibly - if he upsets me - throw an apple at him. All beetles can fly, in theory, but they pretty much choose a lifestyle (either flying, walking, burrowing of swimming), or any combination thereof and stick to it. Groundbeetles are pretty specialized in walking. Based on my experience, I’d say it takes more then putting it in a cup to have it take to air. The site I linked to says “Most individuals have reduced hind wings, but in some they are fully developed”. If you want to know more, I suggest you do some research on your new housemate Gregor. Groundbeetles are a favourite subject of many entomologists, so there’s a lot of info on them. I’ve found that it is virtually psychologically impossible to study something enhusiastically and yet remain afraid or grossed out by it. That will come in handy if you run into any more beetles in your basement. ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Cymbeline](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_cymbeline/32/9244_2.png) [@Green\_Cymbeline](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Cymbeline)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2004, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-a-giant-beetle-in-my-basement/256526/20 "2004-07-23T20:14:35Z")
That beetle ain’t nothing. You should have seen the HUGE spider I found last night in a bread pan in my kitchen. :eek: Bigger than a half-dollar, very hairy, looked just like a mini-tarantula. I think it was a wolf spider. I let him go out back. I was not happy. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-a-giant-beetle-in-my-basement/256526.md?page=2)