SIZE: Carpet beetles are of the smaller beetle breed with a length of 1/8 to 3/16 of an inch long. They are round in shape and very hard to spot due to their small size.
DESCRIPTION: Carpet beetles have a brownish tan color to them but can be covered in scales that are black, brown or white. They also have very tiny patches of hair on their bodies.
BEHAVIOR: Carpet beetles love living in fabric thus the name ‘carpet beetles’. These pests can spread quite quickly in your home if not dealt with right away and often cause a lot of damage to your home as well. The larvae search for fibers to eat, including fleece, wool, cashmere, and even feathers whereas the adults feed on nectars and pollen. It can be hard to identify if you have a cloth moth problem or a carpet beetle problem, the best way to tell is by the way the fabric has been eaten. If the fabric is a trail of holes then it is cloth moths and if the holes are found in a larger contiguous area, then it is carpet beetles.
HABITATS: Carpet beetles can be found in areas with natural fabrics, fibers and feathers. Outdoors they can be found in animal’s nests such as chicken coops and other animal nests. Unfortunately, these pests can also be found indoors in houses, warehouses, museums. Inside, they are regularly found in storage rooms and closets where they can approach numerous kinds of fiber. They are additionally regular in dried flower blend and even in cattails. It isn’t a surprise to discover them under mats, rugs and carpets and in areas that have disposed human or pet hair.
TIPS FOR CONTROL
Removing carpet beetles can be difficult but here are some ways to prevent them from entering your home and/or spreading.
