Carpet Beetle Larvae: The Top Fabric Pest
January 8th, 2010 Posted in Pantry & Linen Pests
A carpet beetle is a pest that feeds on varying fabrics like carpet, fur, or clothing. They tend to prefer carpet because it is the prime spot to leg their eggs and let loose their baby larvae. Carpet beetle larvae can be more vicious than the adult pest because they will eat more of the carpet surrounding them.
The larvae are ravenously eating because they are growing to eventually become a full grown carpet beetle. Having these pests in your home can be very annoying issue for your family to deal with. So, learning how to manage the carpet beetle is important information for your family to have.
Identifying A Carpet Beetle And Their Larvae
An adult carpet beetle is 2.8 to 5 mm long, making them very hard to identify. The adult comes in every color from red to brown and have segmented bodies. The black carpet beetle is the only species that is the same exact color throughout their body. The first section of their body is much shorter than the second segment of their body.
The larvae can grow to 12.7mm in length depending on how much of your carpets they consume. The larvae can feed on leather, silk, wool, hair, dried meat, or dried plants. The larva’s body is shaped like a carrot and comes in any color from gold to brown. Oddly enough, the larvae have hair at the tail end of their bodies that is golden brown.
How To Identify Carpet Beetle Larvae Damage In Your Home
- Look for any other insects in your home. Larvae often feed on ticks, mites, spiders, or any other insect living or dead that they can get a hold of. Finding remnants of other insects throughout your home is a definite sign that they are being feasted on by the carpet beetle larvae.
- Look for any damage to your carpet and other fabrics. Examine your carpet often to look for holes or missing carpet fibers. Look through your clothing for holes because it could be that a carpet beetle larvae had a snack, at the expense of your clothing. This is the easiest way to know if you have a problem with carpet beetle adults or larvae.
- Check for molted skin in your home. In the process of growing from larvae to adult the carpet beetle sheds its skin. Thus, if you find cast skins on your floor it is highly likely it is one of those fabric pests.
So, How Do You Safely Get Rid Of The Carpet Beetle And Their Larvae?
Eliminating the source of the carpet beetle’s existence in your home is vital to ridding yourself of their terror once and for all. Get rid of any accumulation of lint, dead insects, hair, or any other items that could serve as food for the carpet beetle and their larvae. Frequent cleaning and vacuuming will rid any invaded items in your home of these fabric pests.
Clean any spills or dirt within your home to prevent more carpet beetles from entering your home. Dry cleaning or washing your clothes on your own is also an effective means of riding yourself of any carpet beetle larvae living within the fabric of your attire. Keep any furry, hairy, or enticing items stored away out of the reach of the carpet beetle.
By placing clothing or blankets in sealed plastic containers you will prevent the carpet beetle from eating your things, thus removing a once permanent food source. Make sure to store extra food properly as well so it does not go bad and attract larvae to feast away. Placing your food in freezers will prevent the carpet beetles from getting to any of your food. Management of the carpet beetle will go a long way towards making your home insect free.
Another important method of ridding yourself of a carpet beetle infestation is through EcoSMART’s organic insecticides. Using EcoSMART’s Home Pest Control is the safe and smart way to stop them from continually bothering you and your family. Made with natural oils and chemicals, our product is safe for the environment, pets, and most importantly your children.
It only takes one spray of a hazardous pesticide on your carpet to endanger the safety of your family and pets. Therefore, using organic and natural insecticides is the only way to remain safe, while also remaining protected from pesky critters.
21 Comments | The First 1,000 to Comment (Starting 12/21/2009) Will Become EcoSMART Product Testers!
By kerry johnstone on Mar 15, 2010
ive got carpet beetles and they are terrifiyng me and my kids
i need to get rid of them x
By Joanne Chenoweth on Mar 17, 2010
I have discovered carpet beetles in my bedroom and bath. I’ve vacuumed every square inch of everything and checked fabrics. They seem to be attracted to the light from my bathroom window, so I keep the bedroom dark and the bathroom door open. I’ve caught several of them this way. My next step is to try the non-toxic traps or sprays. I also understand that they love the goodies found in wasp nests and I have one in my attic. I’ll get a professional to help me get rid of the attic nests and destroy any that are started this summer in my eves. These are really creepy.
By Dawn on Apr 4, 2010
My boyfriend’s great aunt died a while back and most of her things were boxed up, brought to our house and never sorted. I had noticed a couple of small bugs on one, killed them and thought nothing of it. Now these things are everywhere in our house and I am freaking out! I can’t tell if they are varied carpet beetles or the furniture type, I just know they are making me lose my mind. We took his aunt’s stuff out of our house, but apparently it was too little too late. I’ve sprayed and vacuumed like crazy, but I can’t seem to locate the source. How do I get rid of these things short of having fighter jets bomb my house?
By EcoSMART Brian on Apr 6, 2010
Hello Joanne,
Before seeking professional help for your carpet beetle problems, try using our Home Pest Control for safe, affordable, and effective insect management.
http://www.ecosmart.com/shop/individual-products/home-pest-control.html
By EcoSMART Brian on Apr 6, 2010
Dear Dawn,
Sorry to hear about your large-scale infestation. I suggest using our Home Pest Control because it is safe for indoor use and designed to specifically target the carpet beetle.
http://www.ecosmart.com/shop/individual-products/home-pest-control.html
If the problem continues without any signs of relief, consult eco-friendly professional exterminators.
http://legacy.ecosmart.com/professional/
By Jay on Apr 7, 2010
Just started to see carpet beetles around the house and also found out how hard they can be to get rid of. Hope that your product is an effective way to kill the larvae as I understand this life stage is the most destructive. I’m hoping that the adults are just coming in from the outside garden as we haven’t actually noticed any damage to any clothes or linens. We haven’t yet seen any of the larvae and so I’m hoping that controlling these pests won’t be as much of a nightmare. So far, we haven’t contacted any pest control companies out of concern for the environment and our health. Will continue to explore your website to look at the options you offer and perhaps can participate in your product testing. Thanks!
By Dave on Apr 15, 2010
It did kill them in the beetle stage. Haven’t found anymore larvae right now, but we have one more room to do. So I’ll post back with my findings if I find some.
By Margaret on Jun 29, 2010
I seem to find a handful of beetles in the windows every spring and then find various sized larvae and molted skins occasionally throughout the summer. I just can’t find the source of the infestation. Our carpet is synthetic, I’ve bagged up all my yarn and fabric, and haven’t noticed any damage to our clothing. This morning I found a larvae which had burrowed into a piece of chalk on the kitchen counter. Where else can I look for the source?
By Rina on Jul 12, 2010
Hi, we seem to get carpet beetles annually out here in the desert — the exterminator told us they fly in looking for water. However, we got one really bad infestation years ago from a gift someone sent us that we packed away in a closet — it took us WEEKS of pulling everything out, cleaning/dry cleaning etc. The next time it happened a few years later, we invested in spacebags for most of our storage items.
It is an ongoing battle when you have stuff you store and forget.
By Kara on Jul 15, 2010
Check your pancake mix!! Solved my severe infestation. Vacuuming daily was doing nothing… No wonder!!! They nearly drove me insane it took me months to track down the source… And the whole time I’d been hunting they’d been enjoying pancakes. Gross!!! Haven’t seen one since the hungry Jack left the house!!!
By Pia Pezzati on Aug 16, 2010
Hi
I found out that I have the black carpet beetle after long investigations on the internet…so I’m in the middle of war right now !!
I also discovered that they are in/on my mattress.I vacuumed and ironed my mattress.
Question : What do I do with my mattress – It’s quiet new and I don’t want to throw it away. Does it make sense to spray it with your product ? Any suggestions > thank you.
By Sarah Santitoro on Sep 4, 2010
With a mildly infested mattress (or if you just need to protect it during the “war”), you can encase it — not just cover the top — in plastic. Be sure there are LIMITED airholes & you have them “taken care of” to stay safe from more bugs continuing their cycle.
Before you semi-seal the matress in plastic, spray heavily against the bugs so the bugs are encased with it.
Now, understand please – I am NOT a professional. I suggest you get a lot more opinions before you act. This appeared to work well for me & I recommend it, but I am not especially trained for this… On the other hand, I’m just a friendly fellow-human who isn’t out to gain anything from your decision either. Sometimes that counts for a lot in & of itself.
Wishing you the best of luck!
Sarah
By Victoria Bogner on Sep 5, 2010
I recommend diatomaceous earth; it’s non-toxic to mammals. It rips open the exoskeleton of insects. It’s worked with other bug/ant problems in the past, so I’m going to put it all over my carpet where the infestation started and see if that helps. Diatomaceous earth is definitely the way to go if you want to get rid of them from your mattress. Every day, sprinkle more of the dust into each crevice in your mattress. They should be gone in a couple of weeks.
By Tiffiny Alexander on Sep 8, 2010
I am moving into a new (to me) home and discovered what I believe to be black carpet beetles when I was visiting the home to meet with a carpet installer who was measuring for new carpet. I was so grossed out that I don’t even know if I want to put carpet in anymore. If I go with hardwood flooring after treating the slad foundation for the little pest, will I be rid of them in time for my stuff to be moved in in 3 weeks? Help!!!
By STEPHANIE CHURCH on Oct 15, 2010
Moved into a house last year which has carpets – we used to have floorboards only and rugs and now discover larvea along the carpet edges and along skirtings in kitchen. Saw a couple of beetles too so now know we have an infestation. Thought they were only downstairs but today to my horror found one uostairs. As yet have not tried any products but hoovering like mad whenever I can. Think this is the start of a long battle. Need product that will be effective but wont harm my toddler.
By Lis M on Nov 7, 2010
I just realised that what I’ve been looking at for the last few years were carpet beetles. My son has a terrible case of dermatitis on the back of his legs and we have not been able to determine what it could be — but now I think I have found the answer. They are pretty much everywhere, and our attic is full of stuff, and much dust. (1907 house with an unfinished attic –perfect for breeding, I’m sure.) I’m going to try encasing the mattresses and tear out the carpet in our son’s old room, for starters. We have hardwood otherwise, but it’s hard to keep clean, because we have a dog who tracks in a lot of dust/dirt. Help!!!
By Adrian on Nov 17, 2010
I did not even know what a carpet beetle was let alone that they eat your carpet and clothes. I was sitting the floow yesterday and noticed these bugs burrowing into my carpet and some larva looking thing in the middle. After investigation and coming here I was able to identify them. I am going to do a through cleaning of my house. Do you think they survive in the vacuum bag after I sucked them up?? I have 2 small children and 2 big dogs who leave hair all over. Is there a product for carpets/mattresses? Eww…after reading all the above I have to say im a bit paranoid about the bugs now.
By maria on Nov 26, 2010
After reading so many post, it looks like our home has carpet beetles…I have 3 kids and I am going crazy trying to find the source. I have found some larvea crawling here and there…I am so worried on trying to get rid of them. does your product really work? Please help. I am going insane.
By Nadean Sager on May 9, 2011
Im finding carpet beetles in the window seal the last few weeks. Also found a larvea climbing the wall. have been cleaning and vacuuming like crazy. Still finding the beetles in the window seal everyday. I cant find the hide out for these things. HELP!
By Kip on May 13, 2011
Just started spotting little brown bugs within the past month or so – they tend to already be dead or crawling slowly around the window sill. After researching, am thinking they are carpet beetles (but they are a very plain brown and not at all coloured like the ones shown on Google image search)
Can’t seem to track down the source at the moment and certainly haven’t seen anything furry around the place.
Help?
By marcus on Aug 21, 2011
I have the carpet bugs in my room and its freaking me out I don’t know how to kill then or anything I Juss been spraying stuff on them holding they would die so please can you help me out