Carpet beetles are tiny by very destructive insects that can do a lot of damage to carpets and other natural fibers found in your home. Despite their name, carpet beetles can be found throughout your home in dark spaces such as pantries, closets, and dressers as well as in your carpet. Adult carpet beetles are generally harmless, but the larvae can all but ruin carpets, clothing, and anything else made from cotton and other natural fibers. If you suspect you have a carpet beetle infestation, you need to act fast and contact a professional pest control service as soon as you notice them.
What Do Carpet Beetles Look Like?
Adult carpet beetles range from 2mm to 5mm in length and have short, clubbed antennae. Most are oval-shaped and are brown or black in color, although many also have colored scales that can be orange, brown, or white. Most carpet beetle larvae are elongated and have tufts of hair on their bodies. They are usually light or dark brown in color, although their appearance will vary depending on the type of beetle they are.
Are Carpet Beetles Dangerous?
Adult carpet beetles are mostly harmless, but the larvae can do a lot of damage to carpet, clothing, furniture, or anything else made from natural fibers such as cotton, silk, linen, and wool. The larvae feed on these fibers as well as dry foods such as uncooked pasta or cornmeal. While adult carpet beetles won’t directly damage anything in your home, they can lay up to 100 eggs, each of which will hatch into a larva that will feed on carpet and clothing.
How Do You Know If You Have Carpet Beetles?
The first sign that you have carpet beetles in your home is usually seeing the adult insects on your windowsills. You also might see holes in your carpets, furniture, and other fabrics in your home. The larvae of a carpet beetle also leave behind cast skins when they molt. You probably won’t notice these, but they can cause an allergic reaction in some cases.
How Do You Get Rid of Carpet Beetles?
The good news about carpet beetles is that they’re usually easy to get rid of. A professional pest control service like ASAP Pest Control can treat your carpets and furniture with insecticide and small amounts of boric acid, killing the beetles. Otherwise, you can prevent carpet beetles from infesting your home if you pay close attention to any flowers or other plants you bring into your home and vacuum your home regularly.
Call ASAP Pest Control for Professional Carpet Beetle Removal
If you suspect that you have carpet beetles in your home, don’t hesitate to contact ASAP Pest Control. While it isn’t difficult to get rid of carpet beetles, they can do a lot of damage if you don’t act quickly. Our Residential Pest Control and Commercial Pest Control solutions provide you with a customized program designed to make sure carpet beetles stay out for good.