What are Carpet Beetles?
Carpet beetles are considered a common pests. As their name suggest they do eat carpet fibers but can also eat several different things inside your home. Because of the wide range of food sources, getting rid of Carpet Beetles can be a challenge. Larvae usually hatch in the spring or early summer often in bird nests. If they’re not properly handled or exterminated they can become a problem very quickly. Besides their destructiveness, these beetle larvae shed small hairs which can cause allergies. These pests have been discovered to spread infectious diseases, like Anthrax.
What do they look like?
We have 3 main species. The varied carpet beetle is the most commonly found here.
Varied Carpet Beetle. Larva is pictured first and adult is the second picture.
The Black Carpet Beetle. Larva picture first and adult pictured second.
The Furniture Carpet Beetle
Where would I find them?
Larvae are the most harmful and destructive stage in their lifecycle. An adult beetle can live four years, laying eggs once a year. Eggs are incredibly resilient and once they begin to develop into cocoons and larvae, they stay in this stage for almost a year. The larvae are the most destructive stage. Both eggs and larvae are very difficult to see and detect since they tend to blend in with the fabric they inhabit. Once they grow, carpet beetles are scavengers and they may be found in areas well away from food sources.
You may also find one or two larvae crawling on surfaces in or around the carpeted areas of your home. They feed on the nap of fabrics and carpeting without chewing the base threads. If you are seeing holes in fabrics around your house, the damage is due to carpet beetles, look for fecal pellets and skins shed by the larva. They feed most times in dark secluded places, so check thoroughly for them in these areas:
- Corners and bottom of drawers.
- In basement and attics.
- Under rugs and carpet.
- Undersides of furniture.
- Inside closets- especially in corners.
- In areas around or behind furniture where pet hair may accumulate.
- Outside your home where there might be dead rodents or birds.
- In and under storage boxes.
- In gaps alongside and above and below shelving.
- Between walls and insulation.
- On Windows and door frame moldings.
What do they eat?
- Clothing – especially cotton, silk, and wool
- Household linens- dish towels, sheets, table cloths, towels
- Furniture
- Rugs and drapery
- Carpets – Most synthetic carpets contain some organic materials
- DOG FOOD
- Flour
- Seeds
- Pet food
- Pasta
- Bird seeds
- Cereal
- Nuts
- Grains
- Corn
What do I do now?
Work on sealing up all food containers. Keep pet food picked up. Vaccuum regularly and call Creepy Crawly Pest Control to professionally take care of the issue with our 30 plus years experience.
