A Closer look at Carpet Beetles
The carpet beetle is a pest in kitchen cupboards, as well as in woolen carpets or clothes storage areas.
Life History
The newly hatched larvae scavenge for food (they will eat dander, hair, and other small bits of food high in protein) – this life form of the beetle causes the most damage. Carpet beetle larvae feed on animal-based materials, especially wool, felt, fur, silk, feathers, and leather. Commonly attacked items include sweaters, scarves, coats, blankets, rugs, down pillows and comforters, upholstery, toys, decorative items, and taxidermy mounts. The larvae often feed within fabric folds (hems, collars, cuffs, etc.) in closets, chests, and boxes where items are stored for long periods. Clothing and blankets in regular use are seldom attacked; the same is true of rugs that are routinely vacuumed. Edges and undersides of rugs and carpets are more likely to be infested than areas out in the open.
Carpet beetle larvae avoid light and move so slowly that they appear to be gliding. At room temperature, the larval life span can range from 9 to 20 months. This variation is due largely to fluctuations in temperature, food quality, and relative humidity. The larvae may molt from 5 to 11 times, and up to 20 times when conditions are unfavorable. The larval skins often are mistaken for the larvae themselves. The larvae enter their next stage of development (pupa) in their last larval skin, and the pupal period may extend from 6 to 24 days. Carpet beetles usually overwinter in the larval stage.
Adults may live from 2 weeks to several months, but never damage household goods in this stage. Unlike the larvae, they are attracted to light. They are active and often can be found around windows and outdoors on flowers, eating the pollen. The females commence egg laying on the larval food materials or in dark secluded places less than one week after emergence. A female can lay from 50 to over 100 eggs, but most often averages around 50; she generally dies a few days after her eggs have been laid.
How do Carpet Beetles Get into the House?
Adult carpet beetles are attracted to flowers, and in the spring of the year they may fly into the house. The larvae may wander from the nest into the attic and other parts of the house. At times, birds and other animals die in chimneys and elsewhere in the house and their carcasses become a source of food for the larvae. Very often, carpet beetles are brought into the house with old woolens and carpeting. Sometimes carpet beetles are introduced into a dwelling in stored products such as dried dog food.
It is not uncommon to find one or two carpet beetles in a house. An occasional carpet beetle larva probably is not an indication of a serious problem; however, if you regularly encounter large numbers of larvae or adults, find the source of the infestation and institute control measures.
Management
Preventing Infestations.
As with clothes moths, the best way to avoid problems with carpet beetles is prevention. Woolens and other susceptible items should be dry-cleaned or laundered before being stored for long periods. Cleaning kills any eggs or larvae that may be present and removes perspiration odors that tend to attract pests. Articles to be stored should then be packed in tight-fitting plastic bags or containers.
Householders intending to use moth balls, flakes or crystals should carefully read and follow label directions. These volatile, odiferous products containing naphthalene or other products can be hazardous if used incorrectly. Never scatter them in open closets or other areas where children or pets can reach them. The vapors are only effective in deterring fabric pests if maintained at sufficient concentrations. Effective concentrations can best be achieved by sealing susceptible items (with the specified dosage of balls, flakes, or crystals) in large plastic bags within tight-fitting trunks, totes, or boxes.
Valuable garments such as furs can also be protected from carpet beetles by storing them in cold vaults, a service offered by some furriers and department stores. Contrary to popular belief, cedar closets or chests are seldom effective in deterring fabric pests because the seal is insufficient to maintain lethal or repellent concentrations of the volatile oil of cedar.
Controlling Infestations.
To eliminate carpet beetles, you must locate all infested items. The primary source may be a seldom-used wool or fur hat or scarf on a shelf in a closet; an antique rug stored in the basement; or the remains of a bird or squirrel nest up in the attic. Carpet beetles prefer to dwell in dark, undisturbed areas where susceptible items are stored for long periods. When inspecting clothing, pay attention to seams, folds, and creases (e.g., cuffs and collars) where larvae often prefer to feed. Larvae also tend to infest the lower edges of rugs and carpeting. This is where Millett’s expertise comes into play. We can lift the outer edge of wall-to-wall carpet from the tack strip along baseboards.
Other possible locations they will investigate include under/within upholstered furniture, inside floor vents and ducts with accumulations of pet hair and lint. As noted earlier, infestations may also stem from bird nests, animal carcasses, or accumulations of dead insects such as flies or lady beetles in attics or elsewhere. Plant-based materials (cereal, pet food, bird seed, etc.) stored in kitchens and basements, or cached by rodents, are other possible sources of carpet beetles. Once found, infested items and susceptible articles nearby should be laundered, dry-cleaned, or discarded. Bagging heavily infested items before disposal can help prevent further spread of the beetles. Dry-cleaning or hot laundering kills any eggs or larvae that may be present. Heat generated by a clothes dryer is effective as well. Vacuuming floors, carpets, and inside heating vents effectively removes larvae as well as hair and lint, which could support future infestations. Be sure to vacuum along and beneath edges of carpets, along baseboards, underneath furniture and stored items, and inside closets and quiet areas where carpet beetles (and clothes moths) prefer to feed.
Insecticides applied to infested rugs and carpets may be helpful as a supplement to good housekeeping.
Please consider contacting Millette Pest Control for our guidance and expertise in application of any insecticide. Be prepared that when being treated, special attention will be directed toward carpet edges, floor/wall junctions, beneath furniture, and bottoms of closets. Infested clothing or bedding should not be treated with insecticides.