Carpet Bettle Hazard

Treat spills and stains immediately as well.

Carpet bettle hazard.

Clean carpet beetle prone areas frequently. Food and sweat stains on fabrics can attract carpet beetles. In certain situations the larval hairs cause skin irritation to those exposed to large numbers of the insects. Adult carpet beetles feed on pollen and nectar but they will also eat cereal rice and flour.

Dermestidae from the digestive tract of a woman wilson and judd 1956 journal of parasitology on july 21 1955 a woman forty three years old in london ontario experienced a sensation of peri anal itching and suspecting the presence of pin worms examined a stool following a bowel movement. Varied carpet beetle mating occurs immediately after emergence. Carpet beetles are of limited significance as a health hazard although they are potential vectors of anthrax. This can mean big trouble for your pantry.

Adult black carpet beetles range from 1 8 to 3 16 inch long. Full sized larvae can be as long as 5 16 inch and range from light brown to almost black. Vacuuming carpeting and washing your clothes and other fabrics frequently at least once every 2 or so weeks is the best way to prevent a carpet beetle infestation. There is an additional health hazard that carpet beetles pose.

Adults and larvae of the black carpet beetle attagenus unicolor are distinctly different from the carpet beetles described above. They are shiny black and dark brown with brownish legs.