The larvae (known as "woolly bears") of these small, oval beetles have outstripped the clothes moths as the major British textile pest. The Variegated Carpet Beetle is 2 to 4mm long, like a small, mottled brown, grey and cream ladybird. The related Fur Beetle is black with one spot on each wing case, and there is a rarer Black Carpet Beetle.
The larvae are small (about 4mm long), covered in brown hairs, and tend to roll up when disturbed.
As they grow, they moult – and the old cast-off skins may be the first sign of infestation. Adults are often seen in April, May and June, seeking egg-laying sites; and the grubs are most active in October before they hibernate.
The adult Carpet Beetle feeds only on pollen and nectar of garden flowers but lays its eggs in old birds' nests, felt, fabric or accumulated fluff in buildings. It is the larvae from these eggs that do the damage. They feed on feathers, fur, hair, or wool and tend to wander along the pipes from roofs into airing cupboards – which house the clothes and blankets which constitute the food.
The life cycle takes about a year, and the grubs can survive starvation in hard times for several months.
Carpet beetle damage consists of fairly well-defined round holes along the seams of fabric where the grubs bite through the thread.
How we can help
- We treat all rooms which have Carpet beetle in by using fogging, residual insecticide and gel baits.
- We will only carry out a partial treatment (one of 3 rooms for example) at the request of the client, but partial treatments are not successful and not recommended.
Before our visit
- The property must be vacuumed and cleaned thoroughly throughout.
- All items on the floor such as shoes, bags etc. should be taken off the floor especially at floor and wall junctions.
During our visit
You should be out of the property during our treatment and until the insecticide is dry, normally about 3 hours dependent on temperature.
After our visit
- Do not sweep, brush, mop, vacuum, or clean the area that has been sprayed for at least 14 days, this is to let the insecticide work through the insects' life cycle which we are trying to break.
- If after 14 days there is still activity then a second treatment may be required.