Beetles

Carpet Beetles

USDA Cooperative Extension

What are Carpet Beetles?

Carpet beetles are capable of damaging carpets. These beetles will also feed on other materials in addition to carpets, such as wool, furs, silk, feathers, felt, coats, blankets, carpets, down pillows, and comforters, upholstered furniture, and leather. Synthetic fabrics such as polyester and rayon are rarely attacked unless they are heavily soiled with food stains or body oils. Infestations of carpet beetles can occur if undetected in a home, causing serious damage to clothing, bedding, floor coverings, and other items.

The adults are small, oval-shaped beetles about 1/8 inch long. The black carpet beetle is shiny black. Adults of other common species are brightly colored in various patterns of white, brown, yellow and orange.

University of Kentucky Entomology

The larvae of carpet beetles are about 1/4 inch long and are covered with hairs or bristles. During the larval stage, the carpet beetle feeds on fabric and causes damage. Adults can typically be seen indoors around light fixtures and windows, indicating that a larval infestation could present somewhere within the home.

They prefer to feed in dark, undisturbed areas such as closets, attics, within boxes where woolens and furs are stored, along and under the edges of carpeting, underneath upholstered furniture, and in air ducts where they feed on lint, pet hair and other bits of debris.

Carpet beetle infestations may also originate from bird or animal nests or an animal carcass present in an attic, chimney or wall void. They also occasionally feed on seeds, pet food or cereal products in the kitchen or pantry.

Control

The best way to avoid carpet beetle problems is through prevention. Vacuuming regularly helps remove carpet beetles , in addition to hair and lint which could support future infestations. Particular attention while vacuuming should be paid to the edges of carpets, along baseboards, underneath furniture, and other undisturbed areas where carpet beetles tend to feed. Insecticide applications directed into infested areas are often useful as a supplement to good housekeeping.

CB-80 Extra Flushing & Contact Insecticide contains:

Clothing and bedding should not be sprayed and should be removed before treatment.

DeltaDust is the world’s first and only 100% waterproof insecticide dust, so it works in the wet and damp places that insects love. Nothing short of running water will disturb it, making DeltaDust an ideal crack and crevice treatment.

Dust behind the headboards and cracks along the baseboard. And treat the rest of the room behind dresser's etc.