Our Pest Library

Having pests? Learn more about the type of pest you have and how to protect from them.

Carpet Beetle

Carpet Beetle

Pest Library

Carpet Beetle- Characteristic and Facts

Carpet Beetle is a 3mm long beetle with an oval-shaped body. They are covered in different colours, creating an irregular pattern of white yellowish and brownish patches.Carpet beetles as their names hinted, sometimes infest carpets. Like the clothes moths, carpet beetles also feed on wool, fur, silk and feather items.These materials contain keratin, which the larvae are able to digest. Polyester items are rarely attacked unless  they are blended with wool. Carpet beetle infestation can cause harm to vulnerable items. In spring time it is easy to see them hanging on windowsills.A female carpet beetle can lay up to 100 eggs. In a few weeks their tiny eggs hatch into the fabric. Larvae are about ¼ inc long with brown colour and body covered in hairs. Often larvae leave irregular holes on the fabric. Commonly attacked items include blankets, rugs, pillows, coats and sweaters. Adults carpet beetles can live both indoor and outdoor, but females prefer to lay their eggs where larva food sources are plentiful. These insects can enter your home through your doors and windows, but also they might be brought in by way of cut plants and flowers. Some carpet beetles can be found living inside bird nests or other animals and can live in chimneys, feeding on dead insects.
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Signs Of Carpet Beetle Infestation

Carpet beetles could be very hard to find. They sometimes live under floorboards or in vents but more often can be found in cracks and crevices in carpets, furniture and clothes. If you can notice small light brown, empty skin shells this is one more sign that you may have carpet beetles in your house. Additionally, the larvae produce tiny faecal pellets as another evidence of infestation.
How Serious Are Carpet Beetles?
Carpet beetles larvae mostly eat fabric like wool, silk and feathers. Therefore, they are damaging household items like clothes and furniture. They can also irritate your skin because of their bristly hairs.
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Preventing Infestation

The best way to avoid problems with carpet beetles is prevention. It is highly recommended any woollen and other susceptible items to be dry-cleaned or laundered before being stored for a long period of time. If you find infested items they should be laundered. Hot laundering and dry- cleaning kills all the eggs and the larvae.
Regular cleaning with a mixture of white vinegar and water also will kill any eggs and larvae that might be present. Sparkling boric acid the rugs, carpets and furniture, leave it for 2 hours and then vacuum the residue and dispose of your vacuum bag. Using mothballs, flakes and crystals could prevent the infestation as well but you should read carefully the direction labels to prevent any damages. You can also  block carpet beetles with a few additional steps:
  • Carpet beetles don't like direct sunlight,  opening the drawers and closets to natural sunlight will deter them
  • Use plastic bags to store linens and clothing
  • Avoid natural fibres in rugs and carpets
If you have followed these suggestions about how to prevent from carpet beetles and still seeing signs of infestation, contact Archers Pest Control. Our certified pest control technicians are trained to help manage carpet beetles and many other similar pests. We know every business or home is different that's why your Archers technician will design unique treatment for your situation. Archers can provide the right solution to keep carpet beetles away from your home or business.

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