Pest Control For Carpet Beetles
by
Michael Gray
If you have ever had a carpet beetle infestation, you realize exactly what a pain this insect can be. While employing the help of a pest control company is not necessarily required, a qualified pest control service can help you isolate the origin of your issue and eliminate it. If you’ve been fortunate not to have infestation, the next information will allow you to identify kinds of carpet beetles and make fully sure your home stays safe from them.
The three most typical kinds of carpet beetle will be the black carpet beetle, the furniture carpet beetle, and the varied carpet beetle. All go through a four-stage life cycle, which include egg, larvae (crawling stage), pupae (cocoon) and adult. The larvae look quite distinctive from the adult carpet beetles.
Black Carpet Beetles: The adult beetle grows to be around 1/8 to 3/16 of an inch long and has an oval-shaped, shiny black or dark brown body. The black carpet beetle larvae tend to be golden to dark brown in color, are usually longer compared to adults (around 5/16 of an inch) and have a slender, elongated body covered with short, stiff, dark hairs.
Furniture Carpet Beetles: The adult beetle is normally around 1/16 to 1/8 of an inch long and nearly round. They appear to truly have a mottled appearance, as their health are covered with multi-colored scales. Underneath of your body is white. The larvae of the furniture carpet beetle are more of a square shape, around 1/4 inch long, and is covered with thick, dark hairs.
Varied Carpet Beetles: The adult beetle resembles the adult furniture carpet beetle in that it is nearly round, grows to around 1/10 of an inch to 1/8 of an inch long, and has multi-colored scales, giving it a “spotty” appearance. Varied carpet beetle larvae have tufts of dark fur, bodies with alternating bands of light and dark color, and are oval in shape, although the rear of your body is wider compared to front.
Carpet Beetle Behavior
In most varieties, the larvae are scavengers that cause damage as they feast upon natural fabrics (like wool, leather, or silk) and open or spilled grain products (such as cereal, pasta, flour and cake mixes). Larvae also eat lint, pet hair, pet food, book bindings — you receive the idea.
Since adults can lay between 40 and 90 eggs at the same time, a small grouping of larvae could be rather destructive. The adult will lay the eggs in what’s called a larval food source, a sizable element of any of the materials described above. Once hatched, the larvae will feed and move until it is time to pupate (cocoon). During this time, they find dark, secluded places with ample food sources. It may be easy to inform their damage from moth damage because carpet beetle larvae often feed on one part of an item of clothing or your carpet, while moths often cause damage in several different spots. The dark skin shed once the larvae pupate and their fecal pellets, about the size of a grain of salt, also can indicate where larvae have been feeding.
Pest Control Techniques
While it may be difficult to keep these insects completely out of your home as they are so small, you will find pest prevention measures you can minimize their activity indoors. The first faltering step is to keep your home clean. Vacuum frequently, especially in corners and under furniture, to eliminate any accumulations of lint and pet hair. Regularly clean draperies, linens, rugs and carpets. Promptly clean any food spills from furniture, rugs and carpets. Make sure all open food containers are sealed tightly after use. Trim back any flowering plants near window or door openings to avoid adults from sneaking into your home.
In the event that you make use of the above pest prevention tactics and are still seeing ongoing proof an invasion, contact a qualified pest control service for assistance. A green pest control company will notice that chemicals may not necessarily be the clear answer; it is more important to find the supply of the infestation and cleanse that area completely.
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