While it's true that carpet beetles are attracted to open food, food waste, and dirty fabrics, having carpet beetles isn't necessarily a sign of a dirty house. Their preference for dark, undisturbed places means that they squirrel their way inside our homes, seeking out the nooks and crannies.
Do Carpet Beetles Mean Your House Is Dirty? Carpet beetles can be attracted to clumps of pet fur or other decaying animals and insects, so cleanliness can help prevent an infestation. Still, these pests can find their way into immaculate houses, too.
Though these insects are not known to bite or spread serious diseases, they aren't totally harmless. Carpet beetles can actually lead to a number of health issues, including: Digestive issues. The small hairs of carpet beetle larvae can get on food and cause irritation throughout the digestive tract.
Carpet beetles are not dangerous, it would be perfectly safe to be in the room. Carpet beetle larvae can damage certain fabrics but most often they feed on stored dry foods. Dry pet food, for example, is a favorite food of these beetles.
I get them in my house all the time, they are absolutely harmless. Vacuum your floors, clean any dirty laundry piles/bedding, and you'll be fine. They like the fabrics, not your blood!
Here are the signs of carpet beetles:
Thin, bare areas on wool products. Damage to clothes, blankets, etc. Hairs falling out of furs. Shed larval skins.
Essential oils are natural deterrents. Peppermint oil and clove oil diluted with distilled water is a cheap and natural carpet beetle killer. Spray it in areas where you suspect beetles or larvae activity.
WILL CARPET BEETLES GO AWAY ON THEIR OWN? Carpet beetles aren't likely to go away unless they run out of food, and since they eat such a wide variety of items, that isn't likely to happen quickly. Once carpet beetles are inside a home, they're difficult to control because of how widely they can disperse throughout it.
Carpet beetles are not a threat to human health, but they do cause damage to clothes carpets, and other items with keratin in its composition.
After vacuuming cracks and crevices in closets and other rooms infested, a non residual aerosol such as 565 or CB-80 can be applied to rugs, carpets, and the undersides of cloth furniture. This should kill any existing adults or larvae.
Frequent, thorough vacuuming is an effective way of removing food sources as well as carpet beetle eggs, larvae, and adults. After vacuuming infested areas, dispose of the bag promptly, because it can contain eggs, larvae, or adult insects.
Carpet beetles prefer to dwell in dark, undisturbed areas where susceptible items are stored for long periods. When inspecting clothing, pay attention to seams, folds, and creases (e.g. cuffs and collars) where larvae often prefer to feed. Larvae also tend to infest the lower edges of rugs and carpeting.
Carpet beetle larvae are attracted to the scent of essential oils often found in human hair. These insects are known to crawl across sleeping people in order to feed on and lay eggs in their hair.
How did I get carpet beetles? Due to their diet of fabric and animal products, carpet beetle larvae can thrive in homes if left alone. Adults fly inside through open doors and windows to lay eggs on furniture, clothing, or rugs and often are introduced when infested items are brought inside a home.
As it turns out, yes, it is, in fact, a big deal. Carpet beetles are a family of insects that are a common household pest. They get their name because of what their young, called larvae, eat.
These insects don't bite humans, but they can cause a bumpy, itchy, rash that is sometimes mistaken for bed bug bites. This is due to prolonged contact with the hair fibers on the body of carpet beetle larvae. Airborne fibers from carpet beetles can also cause respiratory tract and eye irritation.
Carpet beetles are very common. According to a 2012 study cited by The New York Times, they were found in more than 90 percent of the homes studied. They are about 1/8 of an inch long.
Carpet beetles are sometimes mistaken for bed bugs, but there are some pretty clear distinctions between the two pests. Carpet beetles don't bite. Carpet beetles simply don't have the mouthparts designed to pierce skin and suck blood.
Boric Acid
This household powder can be found in many supermarkets. It can be sprinkled on infested carpet to quickly exterminate any present carpet beetles, then vacuumed up after two hours.
Though they may feed on stored bedding, carpet beetles do not live in beds. Once larvae mature into adults, they prefer a less destructive diet of flower pollen.
Fumigate/Bomb – After spraying with NO Bugs Super or NO Spiders Total Solution use NO Bugs Super Bug Bombs to quickly knock down adult beetles and moths and treat areas that may not have been sprayed. NO Bugs Super Bug Bombs contain the same active ingredients as NO Spiders Total Solution and similar to NO Bugs Super.
When it comes to getting rid of carpet beetles, it's all about cleaning – you need to clean every inch of your home to remove the source. Start by vacuuming the area where you notice the most damage. Clean it thoroughly and then seal the vacuum bag completely and throw it away.
To instantly kill carpet beetles, you can use several methods, such as vacuuming, boric acid, Vinegar, washing infested items, diatomaceous Earth, packing your carpets and clothes in airtight bags, and freezing infested fabrics.