Carpet Beetles
Photos by Clemson University - USDA Cooperative Extension Slide Series
Used with permission, courtesy of
www.insectimages.org website
Carpet Beetles are a fairly common
pest. We receive many calls us about this insect and we see an upward
trend in their appearance in homes and businesses. Though these insects will
do damage to fabric, they may be a pest in food products as well.
Carpet beetles occur naturally outdoors and come into buildings from there.
They may enter through improperly sealed or improperly screened doors and
windows, but due to their small size, keeping them out completely is difficult.
There are two groups of Carpet
Beetles: the Black Carpet Beetles and Varied, Common and Furniture
Carpet Beetles. The adult Black Carpet Beetle, as the
name suggests, is black in color and oblong shaped and ranges in size from
1/8" up to 3/16" in length. The other three, though about the
same size, will have a variety of different wing color patterns and are somewhat
more oval in shape. Carpet Beetles go through complete
metamorphosis which includes egg, larvae (crawling stage), pupae (cocoon) and
adult (beetle).
Larvae of Carpet Beetles are fairly
distinctive. They are quite hairy and are striped tan and white in color. There
may be tail bristles (hairs) visible at the back of the insect as well. Inspection
commonly reveals either live larvae or sometimes cast skins of the
larvae. It is this stage of the insect that actually ingests the fabric
which is their food source.
Finding Evidence
Carpet Beetle larvae may damage
carpeting, clothing, hair, fur and animal hides. They will also feed
on dead animal carcasses. As stated above, they may also be found in food
products including milled products such as pastas, cereals, nuts, etc..
Most homeowners spot the larvae or beetles crawling along a surface somewhere. They
will wander about in areas away from where they feed. They will chew
irregular holes in fabrics including carpeting, but often feed on the nap of the
fabric without eating the base threads.
A common food source for carpet
beetles may be pet hair. In areas around or behind furniture, accumulation
of pet hair may provide ample food for this pest.
Although one may find beetles as well
as larvae, we frequently see larvae being brought to us as specimens.
Eggs are small and hard to spot and cocoons (pupae) are rarely
noticed as they tend to blend in with the fabric.
Dealing with the Problem
These insect may be difficult
to control. You can discard affected items or have them dry cleaned as
needed. If a significant number of garments have been affected, ask the
dry cleaner about a bulk rate. Removal of pet hair or fur with thorough
vacuuming is helpful in reducing possible food sources for the larvae.
Carpeting may be dry cleaned as well. You may want to dispose of the
vacuum bag afterward as a precaution.
To control both
the larvae and/or adults (beetles), a residual insecticide such as
Allpro Bug Killer Spray may be applied as a pin stream
(jet) to baseboards and
along the carpet backing up to six inches from the
edge of the carpet using a coarse fan spray. Wall to wall carpeting will
need to be pulled off of the tackless strips to permit such application.
Also, treat using the pin stream around both sides of the tackless strip itself
to control any insects which may be hiding in that area. Finally, treat
any other moldings such as around window frames and door frames.
Other harborages such as
dressers or night tables should be treated inside around all corners where the
larvae may hide as well as inside the corners of drawers and even on the bottom
of drawers where gaps are present. Inside closets, treat corners including
around window and door frame moldings and gaps alongside and above and below
shelving.
If the infestation is severe,
monthly applications of AllPro Bug Killer Spray may be needed.
Consider at least one follow up treatment after 30 days based on observation of
the situation.
In addition, we offer
Gentrol
IGR Concentrate as the least toxic approach for this insect. An IGR is an
Insect Growth Regular. This product will affect the larval stage of Carpet
Beetles. The result of exposure to Gentrol is that when affected larvae enter the pupae stage of
development, their growth stops and they do not emerge
as adults. This product has a very low level of toxicity and does not affect people
in the same ways that it affects insects. The one ounce bottle of Gentrol
will make one finished gallon. Note that IGR products are for long term
control and will not impact insect populations immediately.
Gentrol may continue to be
effective for up to four months so that reapplication is not required on a
monthly basis. Gentrol may be combined with the AllPro product to simplify
the application, but it will degrade within 48 hours once it is diluted.
Therefore, one may choose to mix the Gentrol separately in smaller amounts
to stretch the use of the product.
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