Have you looked on your windowsill lately? You may very well find some small, round to oval shaped, black (or reddish), brown & white beetles there, called carpet beetles. Most homeowners have a few of them, but if you see many of them in your house, then you may have an infestation that could lead to damage of your furniture, carpets and even clothing. You may ask yourself “How did these carpet beetles get in my house?” Well there are many ways: Carpet beetles come from outside, they are outdoor insects. Carpet beetles come in your house through windows, or doors. They can be carried in from flowers or firewood. They can also come in on dry pet food. Once they are in your home, the adult female lay eggs around baseboards, and in dark areas. When the larvae hatch in about five weeks they feed on natural fibers in dark areas for several months. This is when the damage takes place, unnoticed, until they emerge as adults usually in April-June.
Here are some facts:
Carpet beetle
The adult Varied Carpet Beetle is about 1.3 – 3 mm long and has a pattern of black, brown and white in color. The adult Carpet Beetle is harmless and feeds on nectar from plants and flowers. Once they enter the home, the larvae Carpet Beetle can damage carpets, furniture and clothing. The larvae is worm shaped 5 mm in length and covered with hair on its body. They like dark areas and feed on organic material. Adults lay eggs in closets, baseboards, under furniture or outside near bird nests.
Things to look for:
You may see an abundance of adult beetles near windows and doors. They are attracted to light during the day. Another sign of an infestation are molted skin of the larvae found under furniture or baseboards. You may also see holes in your furniture or carpets caused by the larvae.
Most of the time the infestation of Carpet Beetles go unnoticed allowing them to cause damage to your home items. If you notice any of these signs, your professional exterminator, EcoTech, should be contacted to eliminate these pests in your home. We recommend vacuuming and airing out fabrics regularly. Also any old bird nests on or around your home should be removed. EcoTech Pest Control can safely and effectively get rid of these Carpet Beetles and give you peace of mind. Call EcoTech Pest Control today 631-868-7023