What happens when you find small holes in your favourite jumper? Or a tuck in your favourite rug?
A group of shed skins at the bottom of the skirting board means you are dealing with carpet beetle, the most common fabric pest present in carpets.
Carpet beetles are a problem throughout the year, but worry not if you are dealing then Vito Pest Control offer you a carpet beetle control services to get rid of your homes from the beetles by offering professional pest control services.
Here you will explore how to identify them, how to get rid of them yourself and when to call in professional pest control.
What Are Carpet Beetles?
Carpet beetles are small, oval insects that can easily be confused with clothes moths (or even bed bugs). The species you are likely to see in the UK are the varied carpet beetle and the two-spot (fur) carpet beetle. The adults are relatively harmless, feeding mainly on pollen and nectar, and sometimes die when they fly in from the garden and are found on windowsills.
It is the damage caused by the larvae of carpet beetles that are commonly referred to as “woolly bears” due to their furry, banded bodies. That is why they attack carpets, rugs, curtains, upholstered furniture and stored clothing because they feed on natural fibres, such as wool, silk, fur, and feathers.
How to recognise the presence of Carpet Beetles
Larvae do not like light and will be found in dark, undisturbed spots, and so can build up without being noticed. Look out for:
- Holes or tears in carpet, rug, wool clothes or upholstery
- Carpets and rugs with balding or thinning areas
- Moult, a small, hairy skin covering of the larvae.
- Small, dark, coffee-ground or pepper-like droppings
- Adult beetles close to windows, window fittings or a window sill.
- Larvae that are found in dark corners such as under furniture, along skirting boards, inside wardrobes or in airing cupboards.
If you notice more of these signs, it’s a good sign that you should take action soon, as larvae can take many months to become adults.
Step-by-Step: How to Get Rid of Carpet Beetles
Find the Source
Don’t just treat what you can see. Look for nests on the edges of carpets, under beds and heavy furniture, inside wardrobes, behind curtains, in lofts and around old bird nests towards the top of the house, as these are all favourite nesting areas.
Deep Clean Everything
Thoroughly and regularly vacuum carpets, rugs, upholstery, skirting boards and cracks and crevices where larvae can be found. Empty or remove the vacuum bag outside immediately after use to prevent beetles from crawling back in, and use a crevice tool to access corners.
Wash or Freeze Fabrics
Clean contaminated clothing, bedding and soft furnishings, if possible, on the highest setting of the washing machine to ensure eggs and larvae are removed. If hot water cannot be used, a bag can be used with a minimum of 48 hours of exposure to freezing temperatures to treat delicate natural fibres.
Treat Carpets and Soft Furnishings
Steam cleaning gets into fibres and is highly effective in removing hidden larvae and eggs. If infestations are heavy, an insecticide that is registered against carpet beetles can be applied to the edges of carpet, skirting boards and other harbourage areas to complete the treatment.
Dispose of Badly Damaged Items
When clothing, rugs or furnishings are heavily infested and cannot be properly cleaned, it is best to bag them up and dispose of them to avoid the risk of further spread of carpet beetle infestations.
Monitor With Traps
Pheromone glue traps set near infested areas will indicate if beetles are still active, a useful diagnostic tool to assure success with treatment.
When to Call a Professional Pest Control Service
For small, early infestations, DIY can be effective, but carpet beetle larvae can take many months to develop and to hide deep within fibres where they are not easily noticed until damage has been caused. When you are still seeing beetles or larvae after cleaning, when the infestation is in more than one room, or you just don’t want to handle the infestation yourself, it’s time to call in the experts.
With us, Vito Pest Control, a pest control service in UK, you will proceed to conduct a thorough inspection and treat all the harbourages in your home with the appropriate materials to prevent the return of carpet beetles and offer you practical, customised solutions to keep them out of your home. We cover homes & businesses in London and the surrounding areas, and same-day / emergency appointments are available.
Tips to Prevent Carpet Beetles Returning
Here are some tips that help you control carpet beetles after taking pest control service to avoid them for a long time.
- Vacuum curtains, carpets, rugs and upholstery frequently, particularly under furniture and around edges.
- Put away clothes, blankets and wool products out of season in sealed containers.
- Inspect second-hand rugs, clothing or furniture for signs of activity before purchasing for home.
- Wherever possible, screen windows so that adult beetles cannot fly in,
- Discard old bird nests that are found in lofts, chimneys and eaves of houses – larvae are often found here.
- Minimise clutter in storage spaces and closets to eliminate hiding spots.
FAQS
Adult carpet beetles are usually brought into the house by someone on a plane, in second-hand furniture, in rugs, in clothing, or in cut flowers through open windows and doors. They enter the house and deposit their eggs in the vicinity of natural fibres like wool, fur or feathers, through which the larvae are able to take root and develop an infestation.
Carpet beetles don’t bite, but the tiny hairs on their larvae can cause skin irritation, rashes or itching if you come into contact with them. Shed hairs or fibres can also irritate sensitive people’s eyes or respiratory system over time when inhaled.
If it is a minor infestation, it may be possible to get rid of it in one or two weeks through thorough cleaning and treatment, depending on the extent of the infestation. Larvae may also take months to mature, so continued vacuuming and checking may be required to ensure the infestation is eradicated.
If it is a minor infestation, it may be possible to get rid of it in one or two weeks through thorough cleaning and treatment, depending on the extent of the infestation. Larvae may also take months to mature, so continued vacuuming and checking may be required to ensure the infestation is eradicated.
Yes, even though this is called a “carpet” beetle, carpet beetle larvae will feed on wool clothing, silk, fur, leather and even stored dry food such as cereal or pet biscuits. Natural fibres or animal-based materials are potentially available targets.
Final Words
Carpet beetles are tiny, but can cause extensive damage to carpets, clothes and furniture when not addressed in a timely fashion. By getting on top of the problem early with complete cleaning, proper treatment of fabric, and some careful attention to treatment, you have the best opportunity to eradicate an infestation for good. If you’ve already done your own research on how to deal with carpet beetles, you should probably not let it get to be a major issue. Vito Pest Control provide professional carpet beetle control services throughout London. You just need to call 020 808 74052 to schedule an inspection of carpet beetle and save your space.
