Carpet Beetle Wool

Carpet beetle larvae are responsible for the nipped treads and tiny holes we find in wool sweaters coats and pants.

Carpet beetle wool.

Carpet beetles can be an annoyance in your home. Here s what you need to know. Carpet beetle larva feeding on a wool sports jacket. Usually they are brown or black in color with specks of white on their backs.

Preventing carpet beetle damage to clothing begins with dry cleaning or laundering before storing it for the summer. The beetles live outside but will come inside to lay their eggs on juicy looking carpet any time of the year. Plant based materials cereal pet food bird seed etc stored in kitchens and basements or cached by rodents are other possible sources of carpet beetles. Often their cast skins can be found on the clothing or closet shelves.

They may eat through your clothes rugs and furniture. They can also sometimes cause an allergic reaction. These immature pests also have bristly hairs that can irritate skin. Concealed areas e g cuffs collars fabric folds are often preferred.

They like to devour natural fibers such as cotton wool fur and leather. Most carpet beetle damage results from larvae eating holes into natural fiber items like wool silk feathers dead insects and leather.