What are Carpet Beetles?
Larvae of carpet beetles called ‘woolly bears’ are colored and encrusted in tiny hairs up to 5mm long. These creepy culprits are among the most destructive insect invaders.
They resemble tiny furry caterpillars. When hairy bears mature into beetles, they take a round form with six legs and antennae, and there are several distinct species.
Carpet beetles can be a variety of colors, including orange, black, or with a white speckled look, and can be 2 to 4mm long. Black carpet beetles are distinguished by their all-black appearance, as the name implies.
Are you planning to get rid of carpet beetles on your own? In this guide, We described the following solution to get rid of carpet beetles and their larvae.
Firstly you have to know about the following questions for illustration;
- What species of carpet beetles cause trouble for you?
- What are the causes of carpet beetle infestation?
- Where do they live?
- How do I detect carpet beetle infestation?
Main Species of Carpet Beetles
When it comes to identification, You must detect the species of carpet beetles that cause trouble for you. There are four main species of carpet beetles that homeowners need to know about so they can identify them.
These are varied carpet beetles, fur carpet beetles, furniture carpet beetles, and black carpet beetles.
Varied Carpet Beetles
These species have a spherical, yellowish-brown shell and are typically 3-4 millimeters in size.
Fur carpet beetle
These are the longest species, reaching lengths of up to 6 millimeters. They have white marks on their wings and shells that are dark red, pale brown, or black.
Furniture carpet beetle
Furniture and varied carpet beetles both have yellow shells. The distinguishing feature of furniture carpet beetles is that they have tendril-like protrusions, whereas diversified carpet beetles do not.
Black Carpet Beetles
Adult black carpet beetles can grow almost as large as fur carpet beetles and have dark brown or black shells. This species typically lives for only a few weeks.
From Where Did They Come?
Carpet beetles are a frequent type of indoor pest. They grow in a wide range of habitats and consume different stuff.
They can enter your house through different means, including shopping, flowers, animal furs and skins (including stuffed examples), and already contaminated materials and furniture.
Causes of Carpet Beetles
The following factors cause carpet beetles to enter your home:
- Lights, particularly at night
- Opening windows and doors allows these creepy creatures to fly towards the light.
- In garages or under furniture, there are piles of dead insect parts. They eat hairs, dead insects, and skin.
- Natural fibers such as wool, silk, animal furs, feathers, and leather are available.
Where Do They Live?
Don’t let the popular term fool you into thinking that these pests exclusively live in carpets. They like dark locations and may live under baseboards, pantries, closets, and dressers.
They may also get into couches, armchairs, and other upholstered furniture. Carpet beetles are likely to be found around furniture corners, especially if pet fur and dust are present.
How to Identify Carpet Beetles Infestation?
Several indicators may suggest a carpet beetle infestation:
- Hairy worms on your flooring, in your closet, or the kitchen
- Holes in your natural fiber garments and carpets are the effortless signs of carpet beetles.
- Adult beetles have gathered near your windows.
If you’re wondering where carpet beetles like to hide, look in places where hair might gather and keep an eye out for larvae. Adult carpet beetles reside outside but lay their eggs indoors, where there is plenty of food when the eggs hatch.
Carpet beetle larvae like eating pet and human hair accumulations. That is a terrific reminder of why frequent cleaning is crucial, especially in those hard-to-reach locations.
A single adult carpet beetle is frequently enough to indicate a growing infestation, and you should take necessary cautions and be on high alert if you see one. Some people confuse carpet beetles with other, less dangerous insects, so educate yourself with the markings of the most prevalent kinds.
How to Get Rid of Carpet Beetles? {5 Simple Ways}
Once you detect the infestation of carpet beetles, you should take caution immediately to prevent your home from these creepy creatures. Like other insects, they also can reproduce quickly and invade your home if you do not act instantly to exterminate them.
Here are the five ways to get rid of larvae and adult carpet beetles.
5 Ways to Get Rid of Carpet Beetles
- Vacuum and steam cleaning
- Use insecticide
- Boric acid
- Diatomaceous Earth
- Use vinegar
1. Vacuum and Steam Cleaning
Daily vacuuming helps eliminate carpet beetles, sometimes before they cause substantial damage. Use the appropriate accessories to go into holes and clean curtains and furniture.
Steam cleaning your home is another effective deterrent for killing carpet beetles.
2. Use Insecticide
The best way to get rid of carpet beetles and their larvae infestation is by using insecticide spray on your carpet or other fabric. Purchase an insecticide that contains at least one of the following chemicals: deltamethrin, bifenthrin, or cyfluthrin.
To verify that the product will not cause damage, test it in an inconspicuous area before dealing with the entire carpet. Also, carefully read the guidelines and follow the necessary precautions before using them.
3. Boric Acid
Boric acid is another considerably safer solution to deal with infested areas. It works as a toxin on beetle metabolism and is only dangerous to humans in high concentrations if consumed or breathed.
You can purchase it in powder form from pharmacies. Spray it softly and uniformly on the carpet. After a few hours, thoroughly vacuum the area.
You can also prepare a solution by mixing powder boric acid with 2 cups of hot water in a spray bottle and use it in an infested area.
4. Diatomaceous Earth
Another prudent alternative product is diatomaceous earth. Diatomaceous earth is a natural carpet beetle killer that dehydrates the larvae of carpet beetles.
Food-grade diatomaceous earth is a safer solution for pets and humans. You can purchase food-grade diatomaceous earth from supplement stores.
Apply it gently to any infected rugs, furniture, or drawers. When applying, wear a mask to avoid breathing small dust particles.
5. Use Vinegar
Using vinegar is another effective way to kill carpet beetles. For this purpose, you can use white vinegar and apple cider vinegar.
Pour pure vinegar into a spray bottle and spray on infested areas to kill carpet beetles and their larvae. It is a lengthy procedure and requires many applications to work.
Preventions to Keep Carpet Beetles Away
The safest carpet beetle therapy is prevention. Fighting a carpet beetle infestation may be time-consuming if you don’t notice it early, so it’s a good idea to take some easy steps to safeguard your house against carpet beetles.
To avoid carpet beetles, choose rugs and furnishings made of synthetic fibers and vacuum them regularly. Fortunately, here are a few simple steps to make your resident less appealing to carpet beetles.
- Vacuuming or steam cleaning your carpets eliminates loose natural fibers and dust that carpet beetles can feed. It also eliminates any already placed carpet beetle eggs.
- Carpet beetles prefer loose food, so don’t leave boxes of pasta or sacks of flour lying around in your pantry; instead, store everything in sealed containers.
- The most common ways carpet beetles enter your house are through open windows and ill-fitting door coverings. Check for gaps in your window screens and repair any cracks or cavities around your doors.
Say Goodbye to Carpet Beetles Forever
Carpet beetles are not at the top of most people’s list of terrifying insect invaders. But they are incredibly destructive, difficult to eliminate and multiply rapidly, making them a severe problem once they establish a foothold in your house.
Maintaining a proper vacuuming regimen and keeping an eye out for indicators of carpet beetle activity is the best approach to keep carpet beetles away from your resident.
Commit yourself to these above-discussed processes and preventions to get rid of carpet beetle infestation and see how much more comfortable you and your home feels!