How Carpet Beetle Infestations Start In Maryland Homes
10/25/2021
Carpet beetles are an interesting type of pests found in Maryland homes. These tiny insects are now quite common to the area and can be found in a ...
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Carpet beetles are bugs that feed on a wide variety of food sources. The best place for them to find their food and to go undetected is in your home. Carpet beetle populations can grow in your home without you ever noticing. Here is what carpet beetles are and how you can get rid of them.
What do Carpet Beetles Look Like?
Carpet beetle adults are blackish brown in color. This beetle measures about 2.8 mm to 5 mm long. The head of the beetle is all black.
Carpet beetle larvae are about 3/16 inches long and covered in bristles that make it appear hairy.
Why Carpet Beetles are in Your Home
Your home is furnished with all the things on which carpet beetles like to feed. Carpet beetles get their name from their dietary preferences, as they enjoy feeding on the natural fabrics found in our carpet.
Carpet beetles leave their larvae around your home and in your furniture.
Carpet beetle larvae infest areas near vents, attics, basements, and other areas that are dark and hidden from view.
Carpet beetles tend to congregate where there is an easily accessible food source nearby. But it’s not the adults that cause all the damage around your home; it’s actually the larvae.
What do Carpet Beetles Eat?
Carpet beetles feed on animal hair or skin, air duct debris, and lint. That means the following are potential food sources for carpet beetles:
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Wool
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Leather
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Fur clothing and accessories
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Silk
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Feathers
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Hair
Carpet beetles may also feed on fry meats, dead bugs, and plants.
Damage Caused by Carpet Beetles
Carpet beetle larvae can and will cause significant damage to your clothes and furnishings. Look for the signs of carpet beetles: holes in clothing, damaged fabrics, and beetle bodies throughout your home.
Preventing and Controlling Carpet Beetles
You need to make it less desirable for carpet beetles to lay larvae in your home. You must also starve the food source. Cleaning is a must since carpet beetles feed on hair, lint, and dust. Here are a few ways you can prevent carpet beetles:
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Vacuum and mop frequently
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Avoid bringing fresh cut flowers in from outside without inspecting and rinsing them first
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Clean crumbs out of pantries and off of the floor
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Seal stored clothing in airtight containers
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Clean your lint trap often and throw it outside
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Have your air ducts cleaned
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Get regular pest control treatments
The best solution is to call American Pest about year-round pest control services to keep carpet beetles and other pests away from your home.
