Everything You Need to Know About Carpet Beetles

​You may have never heard of carpet beetles before, but you may have seen evidence of them. Carpet beetles love to feast on household items and may leave holes in clothing, fabrics, and other things. Here are some questions and answers about carpet beetles and the steps you can take to prevent them.

Variegated carpet beetle By David Short from Windsor, UK [CC BY 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)] via Wikimedia

​What do carpet beetles look like?
There are a few different species of carpet beetles, but they are generally around 3-4 mm long with an oval, domed shape. Carpet beetles are insects, so they have 6 legs and a pair of short antennae. They also have wings and fly. There are different colors, depending on the species, but the most common carpet beetles are black or brown. Some also have a mottled yellow, white, and black appearance. Carpet beetle larvae have a tapered shape like a carrot. The larvae are brown and hairy and can grow up to 6 mm long.

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Why did I get carpet beetles?
Carpet beetles generally live outdoors in forested areas, but they are attracted by lights and will often enter homes by mistake. Once they are inside, carpet beetle females will lay their eggs, quickly causing an infestation.

What do carpet beetles eat?
Carpet beetle adults typically feed on nectar or pollen. Inside your home, they may invade the pantry to find food. It is the larvae you have to worry about in your home. The larvae like to eat animal products and natural fibers. Things like feathers, fur, clothing, wool, leather, blankets, upholstery, silk, rugs, and carpets. They will chew holes into these types of household items and can cause quite a lot of damage.

Are carpet beetles dangerous?
Carpet beetles can contaminate food and destroy household goods, but they are not considered dangerous. They do not carry or transmit any known diseases or bacteria.

How can you prevent carpet beetles?
Since carpet beetles are mainly attracted to houses because of outdoor lights, you can leave the lights off at night, move lights farther from entry points like doors and windows, or switch the light bulbs to colors that are less likely to attract bugs (yellow, pink, and orange). From there, it is important to make sure that the exterior of your home is sealed so they cannot enter. Doors and windows should seal tight and have screens and weatherstripping. Holes, cracks, and gaps should also be filled with caulk or expandable spray foam. Lastly, keeping your home clean and decluttered can also help prevent an infestation of carpet beetles. Consistently vacuuming and sweeping can do a lot to keep infestations away.

How do I get rid of a carpet beetle infestation?
Although carpet beetles can cause a lot of trouble, they are easily treated by a professional pest control company. A residual insecticide can be applied that will kill carpet bugs currently living in your house and prevent new ones from coming in. For Toronto pest control, GTA Toronto Pest Control is your best bet for getting rid of carpet beetles and many other household pests. Contact us today for more information.