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What are black carpet beetles?
Have you ever noticed a tiny bug crawling along the wall? Your first fear might be that it’s a bedbug, but there’s another possibility – carpet beetles. You could easily mix them up; you can find both hiding in bedclothes and other fabrics, and they’re so small it can be hard to tell them apart without getting up close.
Carpet beetles don’t want anything to do with people, but they can do a lot of damage to clothing and carpets. Carpet beetle control services are a necessity for any business in the hospitality and clothing retail industries – as well as any business that works with textiles. Read on to learn more about these bugs!
Types of Carpet Beetles in New York
There are a few different varieties of carpet beetles you could run into in New York. All of them are very small – only about 1/8th of an inch in total length. They can be hard to spot unless they wander away from the fabric folds and carpets they like to infest.
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Black carpet beetles are the most common and most destructive type of carpet beetle found in the United States. They are either dark brown or black.
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Furniture carpet beetles are dark brown and can have yellow and white spots.
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Varied carpet beetles have a black or brown base color with irregular white and yellow spots.
What do Carpet Beetle Larvae Look Like?
Carpet beetle larvae resemble tiny caterpillars. They’re cigar or carrot-shaped and look slightly longer and narrower than their adult counterparts. They have distinctive long, curled, golden-brown hair protruding from their tail-end. At the beginning of each step in the carpet beetle’s life cycle, they may appear pale or even white but will darken quickly with age.
Carpet Beetle or Bed Bug?
As we mentioned earlier, some people may confuse bed bugs and carpet beetles. Here are a few of the things that you can use to differentiate between them.
- Coloration. Depending on the species, carpet beetles can be black, brown, yellow, white, or orange. Bed bugs are always red, brown, or black.
- Wings. Carpet beetles have them, bed bugs don’t. Carpet beetles have hard, shiny wing casings like larger beetles do.
- Bites. Carpet beetles do not bite people. If you don’t have bites, you don’t have bed bugs.
Of course, in a business setting, you’ll want to deal with both types of bugs promptly. So, whether it’s bed bugs or carpet beetles, you’ll want professional pest control pronto.
Signs of a Carpet Beetle Infestation
Carpet beetles eat large, irregular holes through food sources like carpet, upholstery and textiles. They’ll also eat animal products like leather and fur. As they eat, larvae shed their skin, or molt, near their food. This skin is very flaky and often breaks down into dusty material that you might notice on fabrics or stored foods.
How to Get Rid of Carpet Beetles
While professional pest control is the best way to ensure you’re getting to the bottom of your carpet beetle infestation, there are a few things you can do in the meantime.
- Carefully inspect dark areas such as basements, pantries, boiler rooms, and attics.
- Look for beetles on organic products such as cotton, wool, leather, or feathers. Vacuum up any beetles, larvae, and eggs you find.
- Throw out infested food and wash infested fabrics thoroughly.
- Pay special attention to pet bedding and shed fur.
- Make sure doors and screens are sealed so adult beetles can’t fly into your building.
New York Carpet Beetle Control
Carpet beetles can be difficult to locate, identify and eliminate. If you see one carpet beetle in your merchandise, chances are that thousands more are lurking somewhere. DIY measures can only go so far; professional help is the only way to address the root cause.
If you’re facing a carpet beetle infestation, contact Assured Environments. We provide exceptional carpet beetle control in New York. Give us a call to sign up for a free inspection!
Carpet Beetle FAQ
Are carpet beetles harmful?
Carpet beetles aren’t directly dangerous to human beings unless you’re allergic to them. The biggest problem is the damage they can do by chewing holes into your textiles.
What do carpet beetle eggs look like?
Carpet beetle eggs are tiny - less than .01 inch long. They are white or cream colored, oval shaped and often found among unused clothes, blankets, furs and carpeting.
How do I know if I’m allergic to carpet beetles?
Carpet beetle larvae rash occurs when larvae in your bed brush up against your skin. If you’re allergic, you’ll experience mild swelling and redness. Unlike bed bugs, which bite humans, carpet beetle larvae are only interested in your sheets and blankets.
Are carpet beetles the same as bed bugs?
No. While both are small and can be found in your bed, they are not the same insect. Learn to tell the difference between bed bugs and carpet beetles.
What causes carpet beetles?
Adult carpet beetles fly in search of nesting locations to lay their eggs. Carpet beetles are attracted to animal-based fabrics like wool, silk, fur and leather. They will deposit their eggs your home if they find these readily available for their offspring to eat.