Carpet beetles are a fairly common pest in residential and commercial settings. They can easily thrive in almost any environment and find plenty of food to keep them thriving. Carpet beetles are not a threat to humans physically, but they can damage homes and other personal belongings. Stewart Termite & Pest Control would like to share signs of a carpet beetle invasion and what you can do to control them.
Signs of Carpet Beetles
Carpet beetles can be found all over a home or even inside commercial buildings mainly because their food source is very diverse. They are named for their common source of food which is carpet. Carpet beetles will feed on almost any manmade fiber. However, originally, they fed on feathers, animal or human hair and dander, as well as fur, wool, and other natural fibers. Carpet beetles and their larva will also eat cereals, nuts and spices. Carpet beetles can be found in your pantry, on your furniture, the curtains and on your carpets or rugs. Carpet beetles can be hard to spot. As mature adults they are only slightly bigger than the point of a pen. Under a magnifying glass you can see colorful shells that contain red, brown and yellow spots. They are oval shaped and from time to time, can be seen climbing up walls or along the floor. Where they are so small and don’t always make themselves known, their presence can only be revealed by the damage they leave behind, especially the damage from their larva. You may find tiny holes in your curtains, clothing, or have balding carpet. To locate carpet beetles, you may often find them hiding under baseboards, on the edges of carpets, underneath upholstery, or in between the linens.
How to Get Rid of Carpet Beetles
If a carpet beetle infestation is present in your home you will want to begin treating your home right away. The first step is to reduce their population. Begin vacuuming your carpets thoroughly. Make sure you run the vacuum hose along the edges of the carpet. Next, vacuum your furniture again very thoroughly. Hopefully you are able to suck up most of the carpet beetles from out of your carpets and furniture. You can even contact a carpet and upholstery cleaning service to steam clean your carpet and furniture. Wash curtains and other loose linens in case they are hiding on the linen. After you have done some thorough house cleaning, you will want to have your home professionally treated and protected.
Pest Management
To help control carpet beetles, a pest technician can come and treat the inside your home in the primary hiding locations. Dusting is sometimes also done. There are some pest control dusts such as boric acid or even Diatomaceous Earth which can be sprinkled on various surfaces to kill any eggs, larva and adult carpet beetles. It is essential to seek a professional service to safely control carpet beetles. Since carpet beetles can invade the entire home, control must be done safely. If you have carpet beetles or other pests invading your home, contact us today. We provide quality pest control services and more. Contact Stewart Termite & Pest Control and schedule our services today.