When it comes to indoor pests and insects, cockroaches and rats are on the forefront of most minds. However, there is a super destructive insect that not many people are aware of; and that is the carpet beetle. Once they make their way into your home, carpet beetles are ruthless! Once they lay eggs in your home, larvae can cause irreplaceable damage to your clothes, carpet, and upholstery. While carpet beetles can be kept at bay, if they make their way into your home, they are there for the long run.
Adult carpet beetles are often confused with bed bugs. They are small, usually about 3-4 millimeters long, with a short lifespan of 9 months to 3 years. Carpet beetles vary in different shapes, sizes, and colors. Their body is usually round or oval, and their colors range from yellow, brown, red, black, and white. Carpet beetles also have wings and can fly, and are attracted to light. You can often find them near window sills, doorways, and lamps.
While carpet beetles are most well known for living in your carpet and furniture, most carpet beetles live outdoors. They normally feed on pollen, nectar, and other by-products from plants. Adult carpet beetles can get into your home through windows or doors. They can be brought in with plants or boxes. They can also get into your home through plumbing and electrical openings, vents, and chimneys. Once adult carpet beetles make it into your home, they lay eggs on furniture, rugs, and clothing. Hotspots for carpet beetle breeding are within closed, cluttered spaces like closets. Because of their small size, carpet beetles and their larvae can go undetected for long periods of time. In a beetle infestation, it can be very challenging to get rid of the creepy insects.
Adult carpet beetles in and of itself are mostly a nuisance. They can live for about three years, but they are most destructive during their larvae stage. Once larvae hatch, they are hard to eradicate. The presence of adult carpet beetles means there are larvae around eating up your furniture and carpet. These hairy critters chew up items like hair, bedding, wool, upholstery, clothes, carpet, and silk. This can cause little holes and premature wear and tear on your carpet and furniture. Accidentally coming into contact with a carpet beetle larvae can cause uncomfortable rashes and outbreaks on your skin.
Insight Pest Solutions is the best pest control service in Washington and Oregon! Our professional exterminators want to protect your home, carpet, and furniture from these destructive bugs. Nasty insects are not only annoying; they can put you and your family at risk for diseases and injury. With Insight, our pest removal and carpet beetle removal services can save clothes and furniture from further destruction. Think you may have a carpet beetle infestation problem? Insight Pest Solutions will help.