Don’t Let Carpet Beetles Destroy Your Home
Bugs are never especially pleasant to deal with… but sometimes, encountering a few (or a few dozen) is inevitable. When you’re going camping, spending a long humid day out at the lake, or even heading for an evening cookout in someone else’s yard, you know you might be in for some buzzing and swatting.
But when it comes to your property, you shouldn’t have to deal with them… especially inside! Yet here in California, indoor pests like carpet beetles are all too common. They’re not only annoying, but they can also cause serious damage to fabrics, carpets, furs, food, clothes, and more.
Not sure what a carpet beetle is? Or worse, concerned that they’re scuttling around your feet? No problem! The Santa Clarita pest control technicians at No Bugs Termite and Pest Control Inc. are here with tips for identifying and preventing the species of carpet beetles common to California.
What Is a Carpet Beetle? Do We Have Them in Santa Clarita?
As their name implies, carpet beetles are insects that sometimes infest carpets. They’re small in size, and infestations often develop without early signs of detection, but the damage they can inflict on fabrics in your home can be significant. However, similar to clothes moths, their damage doesn’t end there – they also feed on other items composed of wool, fur, felt, silk, feathers, skins, and leather.
Carpet beetles are found worldwide and in all 50 U.S. states. In California, we regularly deal with the varied carpet beetle (Anthrenus verbasci), the black carpet beetle (Attagenus unicolor), and the furniture carpet beetle (Anthrenus flavipes).
Pest control isn’t just an outdoor issue! Learn how to keep your clothing and household linens safe by reading “How to Protect Your Clothing From Insect Damage.”
How to Identify California Carpet Beetles
Carpet beetles and their larvae are very small. Adult carpet beetles are 2-5 millimeters long, while carpet beetle larvae are 4-8 millimeters long. Adult carpet beetles are oval-shaped, with six legs and two antennae. Their shells are hard and round.
Carpet beetles range in color, especially across species. For example, varied carpet beetles and furniture carpet beetles are black with white, brown, yellow, and sometimes orange scales. Black carpet beetles are black (imagine that) without scales.
Since carpet beetles are so small and don’t feed on humans, you may notice the damage carpet beetles leave behind before seeing the insect itself. Carpet beetle damage is often mistaken for that of clothes moths.
How to Prevent California Carpet Beetles
California carpet beetles are difficult to get rid of, but with the right action plan, you can prevent them from ever getting into your home and your things in the first place.
Here are a few tips to help you keep carpet beetles out of your Santa Clarita home:
- Vacuum your home often.
- Store potential food sources such as linens and other clothing in plastic containers or bags.
- Add moth balls to your storage boxes or bags.
- Get rid of bird or insect nests around your house.
- Repair broken screens or cracks that could provide a possible entry point into your home from the outside.
- Opt for synthetic fabrics instead of natural ones whenever possible.
- Get professional pest control treatments to keep carpet beetles away from your home and yard.
Purchasing used furniture is a great way to save money, but that lovely couch could be harboring bedbugs, ticks, termites, and more. Check out “Buying Used Furniture? Check for hidden Pests” for tips and tricks to treat used furniture and keep your home safe.
How to Get Rid of California Carpet Beetles
Getting rid of California carpet beetles can be a lot trickier than preventing an infestation in the first place. To get rid of carpet beetles in your home, you’ll have to track down all eggs, larvae, and adult beetles inside your home. Since carpet beetles breed quickly and often shelter in dark, hidden places inside the home, this can be difficult.
If you choose to try and exterminate carpet beetles on your own, be sure to thoroughly examine your clothing, linens, and rugs and prepare for a lot of cleaning. Vacuum any affected rugs or furniture, steam clean affected areas, launder clothing and linens, disinfect surfaces, and use an insecticide that targets carpet beetles to attack any that you may have missed.
With a pest as tricky as carpet beetles, it’s usually best to leave extermination up to the experts. Contact the Santa Clarita pest control experts at No Bugs Termite and Pest Control Inc. if bugs, snakes, or rodents are trying to invade your property. Our team is only minutes away and armed with the products, strategies, and professional experience to protect your home or business.
