What are Carpet Beetles?
Carpet beetles have been officially classified as one of the most common indoor pests in Utah. They get their name from harvesting on the wool or fur that carpets were once typically made of. Carpet beetles, or larvae, eat a consistent diet of leftover food, other dead insects, dead animals, rodent bait traps, shedded hair, leather, fur, feathers, occasionally cotton or linen and will even feast on your child’s food-based art project.
Normally, these bugs live outside. That being said, carpet beetles will migrate into the home during warmer months to protect themselves from the extra heat.
What do Carpet Beetles look like?
A full grown carpet beetle is around ⅛ inch in length, and vary in color. Typically this insect will be brown, but can range from a light tan to black and even red hues. Larvae have a hairy texture, while adult carpet beetles are smooth on the surface.
What is the habitat of a Carpet Beetle? (Indoor and outdoor)
The Carpet beetle larvae have a preference of feeding in the dark. This bug likes to be undisturbed, protected and in a dark location. Inside a home or structure, Carpet beetles will slide under baseboards, under furniture, dressers and drawers, air vents, stuffed animals and cereal boxes. When this beetle is outside, they will create a home out of bird nests, rodent holes, wasp nests, or even inside the carcass of dead birds or other animals.
How do Carpet Beetles get inside a home or structure?
Life cycle Carpet beetles are usually the type to be brought indoors, by infesting items such as flowers or food products from the store. The female lays its eggs on suitable food items, and when their eggs hatch, the larvae will feast on any susceptible items it can find. Carpet beetle eggs hatch within 10-25 days, and can live long and prosper in the proper conditions. If the carpet beetles are living in ideal conditions, they can live up to a year or longer.
Carpet Beetle control and treatment
Below is a list of things you can do to get rid of carpet beetles, or better yet, prevent them from becoming a problem in the future:
- Sticky traps on window sills and food storage rooms can be effective.
- Keeping all doors and windows leading to the outside, closed and sealed during Spring, Summer and Fall. These are months when the adult beetles can easily fly into buildings.
- Regularly cleaning door frames and window seals can prevent this problem from starting.
- Store all food items, as well as animal based products, in pest-proof containers.
- Dust, sweep, vacuum and mop under and around all upholstered furniture.
- If you have fur rugs, make sure to have them professionally cleaned often.
- Throw away any art projects that may contain food product (macaroni, feathers, leather).
- If you find any items which are infested with carpet beetles, immediately throw the item(s) away.