When we think of pests, spiders, rodents, ants, and cockroaches come to mind. There are, however, other creatures that will infiltrate your home. If you're noticing disintegrating fabrics, carpeting, and upholstery, you may have a problem with carpet beetles. These destructive pests eat natural items such as carpets, silk, hair, hides, feathers, and woolen fabrics.
Carpet Beetle Identification
There are three varieties of carpet beetles that frequent the Hartford area: the varied carpet beetle, the furniture carpet beetle, and the black carpet beetle. These beetles are tiny, about the size and shape of a lady beetle, but with a mottled appearance. The exact colors vary by species.
The varied carpet beetle is very small, only 1/16th to 1/8th inch long. The varied carpet beetle gets its name because it is black with white, brown, and dark yellow scales. As it gets older, these scales often fall off, leaving it a solid black. The larvae are a bit longer than the adults and are covered in tufts of fur. This fur will irritate your hands if you touch it. The larvae have light and dark brown stripes. They are different from other carpet beetle larvae in that they are broader in the rear and narrower in the front.
Furniture carpet beetles are 3/16th to 1/4th inches long. The adults are spotted in gray, yellow, orange, and black. The larvae are also 3/16th to 1/4th inches long. They are cream-colored with dark horizontal stripes. They are also covered in irritating fur.
Furniture carpet beetle larvae are wider at the end of the body than at the head.
The black carpet beetle is, well, black all over. It is 1/8th to 1/4th inches long. They are more oval-shaped than round. The larvae are 1/4 inch long and black. They are carrot-shaped. Black carpet beetles do not have fur all over them. They have stiff, short hairs on them. In addition, they have a long brown tuft of hair at the larva’s rear.
The Life Cycle Of A Carpet Beetle
Once an adult carpet beetle gets inside your home, she will lay 30-100 eggs on a food source. This may be your carpeting, your upholstered furniture, or your linens. After about two to three weeks, the eggs hatch, and the larvae start to eat a big hole in the food source. Most of the destruction occurs in the larval stage. It lasts 60-325 days, depending on species. The larva then spins a cocoon and stays there for 10-17 days before becoming an adult. Adults live 20-60 days. While adults prefer nectar and pollen, if they're in your home, they will likely contaminate your food so that they don't starve.
How Do Carpet Beetles Get Inside?
Carpet beetles, like bed bugs, usually hitch a ride into your home. They may find their way inside your home on clothes or belongings after staying in a hotel, on second-hand clothing or furniture, or even on cut flowers. Carpet beetles may also get in through cracks and crevices around your house.
Eliminating Carpet Beetles From Your Hartford Home
If you have carpet beetles in your home, there are some things you can do to protect your family and eliminate these unwanted pests:
- Discard all potentially contaminated food.
- Remove lint, hair, and other small food sources that accumulate in your house, particularly items that are not disturbed often.
- Vacuum frequently and thoroughly, and throw away the debris you vacuum up at once.
- Clean everything you can: clothes, rugs, floors, and carpets
- Throw out badly infested items.
Call In The Professionals For Your Carpet Beetle Problem
While you can put a dent in your carpet beetle population by cleaning your house, it's almost impossible to rid your home of carpet beetles entirely without seeking professional help. The experts at American Pest Solutions have the experience and tools needed to solve your carpet beetle problem. Not only will they eliminate a current infestation, but they will exercise the measures needed to keep carpet beetles from coming back.
Our carpet beetle control services begin with a thorough inspection of the interior and exterior of your home. After surveying your property, our licensed pest control technicians will come up with a customized plan for carpet beetle control that involves sealing entry points and fumigating your home. All of our treatments are safe for you, your family members, and your pets. To ensure these pests don't return, we will return quarterly for follow-up visits.
If you're struggling with carpet beetles or other household pests in your Hartford home, reach out to us today. Whether you're looking for one-time treatments or recurring residential pest control, our experts are here to help.