Carpet Beetles And Clothes Moths

They originally gained their name by infesting wool carpets such that all the tufts would simply fall out leaving the carpets backing hence thread bare.

Carpet beetles and clothes moths.

These beetles have black white red and orange scales. The adults are harmless and feed on plant pollen exclusively. It is the larva the growing stage that causes. They re especially attracted to food or certain chemical attractants from your perfume deodorant musk etc.

Clothes moths however prefer to feed on items contaminated with organic materials such as spilled food body fluids fungal spores. Clothes moths and carpet beetles are among the very few insects fungi and microorganisms that are capable of digesting keratin a protein component of feathers hair fur horns antlers hooves nails and beaks. Common clothes moths include the webbing clothes moth tineola bisselliella and the case making clothes moth tinea pellionella the webbing clothes moth larvae are small white grubs and are rarely seen. Most pest control specialists provide dependable service for controlling clothes moths and carpet beetles.

This publication describes the carpet beetle and clothes moth species most commonly found in missouri homes carpet beetlescarpet beetles belong to the beetle family dermestidae. Case making clothes moth larvae spin a silken tube or case for protection and they drag this along as they feed. The female beetles lay soft white eggs in concealed places on clothing furniture cracks in flooring and carpet. The black carpet beetle is a solid black beetle about 1 4 inch long.

Carpet beetles are abundant in the seattle pacific northwest regions and do most damage to clothing that we d otherwise attribute to clothes moths. Carpet beetles and clothes moths can cause serious damage to fabrics furs and carpets among other items. Unfortunately you are headed for a time consuming process of going through all of your woolens looking for live dead insects and insect damage. In order to kill carpet beetles and clothes moths infested items need to be held at minimum temperature of 0 degrees fahrenheit for at least one week.

Clothes moths and carpet beetles are among the very few insects fungi and microorganisms that are capable of digesting keratin a protein component of feathers hair fur horns antlers hooves nails and beaks. Commercial clothes moth and carpet beetle control. Carpet beetles and moths both cause holes in your clothes and especially like to feed on cotton clothing or other fabrics. Clothes moths however prefer to feed on items contaminated with organic materials such as spilled food body fluids fungal spores.

Freezing is an effective way to kill carpet beetles and clothes moths. The eggs hatch in eight to 15 days and hatch more quickly in warmer weather. Black carpet beetle larvae 12x actual size.