We provide safe and effective carpet beetle control to clients throughout the Greater Houston area.

What Are Carpet Beetles?

The varied carpet beetle (Anthrenus verbasci) is a common household pest which is found in one of two stages of its lifecycle: its larval form or adult form. Adult beetles usually lay their eggs in air ducts, in closets, under furniture, or under baseboards. Once hatched, the larvae will remain where they are, hiding in dark, undisturbed areas and feeding on whatever organic material they find.

Signs of Infestation

• The presence of damaged articles
• Molted larval skins in dark areas
• An abundance of adult beetles near windows

Description

Adult carpet beetles range from 1.7 to 3.5 mm (0.07 to 0.14 in) in length. Their bodies are rounded, almost spherical. Their wing cases and thorax have an irregular pattern of white, brownish and yellowish patches formed by scales of different colors. Whitish scales are condensed along the lateral margins of these regions, where they form three bright, wavy transversal bands. In addition, their antennae are 11-segmented with a club of 3 segments.

The larval form of carpet beetles is elongate and very hair, roughly 4–5 millimeters in length. Their bodies are covered in a pattern of alternating light and dark-brown stripes. Their bodies are usually wider at the back than at the front and also bear 3 pairs of hair tufts along their rear abdomen that can be used for self-defense.

Why Are They Pests?

In their larval form, carpet beetles feed on a wide range of animal-based items, including silk, leather, fur, wool and animal hair. As a result, carpet beetles are responsible for the damage of various items within your home, such as carpets, clothing, blankets, pillows, furs, and furniture.

They are commonly found in musical instruments that have been stored and unused for a long time, feeding on the sort of pads and felts most commonly used in woodwind instruments. Carpet beetles are an especially high concern for museums that store specimen collections of insects, as the beetles will feed on and destroy these.

Furthermore, the larvae shed hairs that may cause irritated itchy welts on susceptible people (these are often mistaken for bedbug bites).

Adult carpet beetles feed on plant-based foods outside and can be found scavenging in gardens, where they cause damage to ornamental flora with light petals. While adult carpet beetles do not cause damage to fiber, they are also considered indoor pests.

Our Pest Control Process

First, you will get a free assessment of your carpet beetle problem. There is no charge for our technicians to visit your home or office in the Houston area to evaluate the severity of the problem and the likelihood of repeated events.

Depending on the nature and severity of your infestation, we may use one or a variety of carpet beetle control methods for your home or business. We take safety into consideration and only use methods and/or insecticides that are regulated by the EPA. Some of the options we consider include:

• Strategic placement of naphthalene balls
• Removal of bird/insect nests that are attached to building
• Insecticides
• Oxygen Deprivation
• Freezing
• Pheromone/scent traps