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Risk/Damage The adult carpet beetle does not cause harm to health. However, the lava, known as Woolly Bears, can cause extensive damage to textile products such as wool, fur, leather, silk and dried animal remains. Damage takes the form of clean irregular holes usually occurring near seams. [back to top]
Biology & Behvaiour | Common Name | Carpet Beetles | | Scientific Name | Anthrenus verbasai | | Description | - Adult: 2-4 mm long in size
- Colour is variable, brown or black mottled with yellow or white marks on the back
- Larva: 4-5mm long
- Banded appearance, covered in short bristles
| Carpet beetles have become a major pest of textile products, partly attributable to the increased use of central heating which enables an even temperature base, and of fitted carpets enabling undisturbed breeding. [back to top]
Life Cycle As with other beetles, the life cycle has four stages; egg, larva, pupa and adult beetle. Mating will occur immediately after the adult beetle emerges. Adults will live for 2-6 weeks flying to flowers for food and in search of egg laying sites. The female will produce 20 - 100 eggs, 0.5 mm long, over a 2 week period. These are deposited in suitable crevices or stuck to a potential larval feeding site. The eggs hatch in 2-4 weeks producing the characteristic 'woolly bear', which when mature, will be 4-5 mm long and brown with tufts of hair. The larval stage can last 10-12 months, depending on humidity, temperature and availability of food, in which time they will normally moult about 6 times. Soiled materials are preferred to clean ones and larvae will avoid light and curl up if disturbed. The larvae will hibernate over winter and pupation will occur in Spring where the larvae have fed. Pupation takes between 10-30 days when the adult beetle will emerge. [back to top]
Control Control can be difficult as the larvae appear to be fairly tolerant to some insecticides and the wandering nature of the insect means that they frequently infest wide areas. Regular cleaning and examination is important, including carpets and upholstered furniture. If an infestation is suspected a through search must be made for infested materials, which could include such things as old nests, animal remains, wool-based lagging, sound proofing, wool-based furnishing or debris that collects between and around floorboards. All sweepings and infested materials should, if possible, be burned or sprayed with a suitable insecticide, even before disposal. Valued fabrics can be dry-cleaned or vacuum cleaned on both sides. As the fully grown larvae are killed by temperatures in excess of 50oC ironing linen, preferably with a steam iron, will ensure freedom from infestation prior to storage of goods. Roof spaces can be treated after thorough cleaning, ensuring any old nests, animal remains or infested materials are removed and appropriately disposed of. It may be that an infestation may have originated in a roof space due to an old birds nest. Infestations can be treated with residual insecticides bought from hardware shops. When treating soft furnishings, the manufacturers instructions should be followed carefully to avoid causing damage and harm to health. A thorough treatment is important to ensure that all larvae are destroyed. [back to top]
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