Dallas Fort Worth Pest Control Carpet Beetle Control

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Carpet Beetle Control
Adult Furniture Carpet Beetle

Carpet Beetles get their name primarily from the fact that they feed on wool carpets. Of course today, most carpets are synthetic, but carpet beetles are still very much a problem because of their diverse diet.

Carpet beetle larvae, like clothes moth larvae, feed not on fabric alone, but on Keratin, a naturally occurring protein compound found in human and animal materials. Adult carpet beetles do little if any damage.

Several species of Carpet Beetles may damage fabrics. Four species are most commonly encountered - the black carpet beetle, varied carpet beetle, common carpet beetle and the furniture carpet beetle. Together this group is usually considered more economically important as fabric pests than the clothes moths.

Of all the Carpet Beetles, the Black Carpet Beetle is the most abundant and widespread and is the species that causes the most damage to fabrics, and other keratin containing articles throughout most of the Unites States.

Varied Carpet Beetle Larvae and
Adults damaging Fabric.

These beetles have a complete metamorphosis, (egg, larvae, pupae, and adult) with the larvae being the primary stage that causes damage to fabrics. All of the adults are small and inconspicuous beetles which are rarely seen by homeowners. Adults may be found indoors or outdoors, and frequently on flowers surrounding a house where they feed on pollen. Flowering shrubs such as Spirea and Pyracantha are very attractive to adult carpet beetles, but other species of flowering plants may be visited. Other food and harborage sites include birds nests, dead animals, insect collections, and a variety of animal products such as woolens, wool carpets, hides, feathers, horns, bone and insect pupae; as well as plant products such as rye meal, corn, red pepper, and other similar materials

Control Clues:

Indoors - Liquid sprays such as Demon WP and Flee to kill pre-adult larvae and adults. All clothing made of natural animal fibers such as wool, cashmere, etc. must be carefully inspected for damaging larvae or dry cleaned since dry cleaning solutions will kill immature larvae. Wrapping inspected or cleaned clothes in plastic will help prevent infestation but is not a cure all.

Moth Crystals or Paradichlorobenzene can be used as an effective storage control material. Mothproofing services provided by some Drycleaners can also aid in control.

Outdoors - Liquid spray applications to flowers or shrubs, such as Orthene or Talstar

Application Don'ts: Foggers will not work. Closets lined with cedar panels are of little or no use in carpet beetle control.