There are a lot of pests that can infiltrate your household. One such pest is very prevalent but surprisingly, a lot of homeowners have never heard of before… the carpet bug/beetle. These pests attack carpets, but that’s not all they go after; they also target furniture, drapes, clothing, and anything else that’s made of upholstery or fabric, or any other fibrous material. In other words, they’re extremely destructive – and disgusting. If you’ve spotted strange little insects in your house that you’ve never encountered before, there’s a good chance they’re carpet beetles. How do you know if you have a carpet bug infestation, though? Read on to find out!
What Does a Carpet Bug Infestation Look Like?
What are Carpet Beetles?
Carpet beetles are, as the name suggests, beetles. There are several different types of carpet beetles, including the black, varied, and furniture carpet beetle – just to name a few. They usually reside outside, where they lay eggs and fest on all types of vegetation; however, they can fly inside through open windows or doors, crawl in through cracks and crevices, and can even hitch a ride on clothing, shoes, groceries, plants, or anything else that’s been outside.
Regardless of the type or how it arrives, when a carpet beetle gets inside your home, it will seek out food sources (fibrous materials) and lay eggs. Once those eggs hatch, carpet beetle larvae will emerge, and they’ll dine on the fibrous material. The larvae will grow, turn into beetles, lay more eggs, and the cycle will continue.
Eventually, you could end up having a serious problem on your hands. Carpet beetles feed on the fibrous materials that they nest in, and as you can imagine, can do some serious damage.
What do Carpet Beetles Look Like?
The larvae of the carpet beetle are small and shaped kind of like a cigar. The color varies and can include black to reddish-brown, depending on the species. Usually, carpet beetles have stripes along their backs and lots of little hairs sticking out all over their bodies.
Adult carpet beetles also vary in color, depending on the species. The black carpet beetle can be black or dark brown, the varied carpet beetle feature white, brown, and yellow spots, and the common carpet beetle are covered with black and white spots.
Do Carpet Beetles Bite?
Fortunately, carpet beetles do not bite. As a matter of fact, the adults don’t even eat the fibrous materials they lay their eggs in; only the larvae feed on the fibrous materials. However, that doesn’t mean they aren’t a cause for concern.
Adult carpet beetles can lay a lot of eggs, and those eggs become ravenous larvae, and they can be extremely destructive! Depending on the severity of the infestation, you could be looking at serious damage.
What are the Signs of a Carpet Bug Infestation?
There are several signs of a carpet beetle infestation. One of the most obvious signs is actually spotting the beetles and/or the larvae. However, there are several other signs of a carpet bug infestation that can appear before you spot the pests themselves. Some of the common signs of a carpet bug infestation to be on the lookout for include the following:
Damaged Fibrous Materials
As the name suggests, carpet beetles can infest and munch on carpets, but that’s not all these critters take up residence in and eat. The larvae will eat any type of fibrous material, including upholstered furniture, window curtains, bed linens, towels, silk, felt, wool, fur, and even feathers. When a carpet or rug infestation occurs, the larvae usually munch on the top layer and underside, creating fraying and bald patches.
Holes in Clothing
As indicated above, carpet beetles will eat any fibrous materials, including clothing. So, if random holes start appearing in your clothing – coats, jackets, pants, shirts, scarves, etc. – a carpet beetle infestation could be to blame.
Fecal Matter
You might notice small black pellets that are about the size of a grain of table salt. That’s carpet beetle feces and is a sign of an infestation.
Shed Skin Casings
As carpet beetles grow, they molt and leave their empty skin cases behind. The casings are translucent and usually have a brownish or yellowish hue. The shape and size are similar to a sunflower seed.
Have a Carpet Beetle Infestation? Contact Local Pest Control Services
Whether you’re certain you have a carpet beetle infestation or you suspect you do, contact a pest control company in your area. A local pest control company will be able to perform a thorough assessment of your home, will accurately diagnose the problem, and can effectively get rid of carpet beetles once and for all!
Additional Information: Carpet Beetles
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