Carpet Beetles
Carpet Beetle is an insect and belongs to the family of beetles as dermestids. These insects are normally grown in museums, houses and any other suitable location where proper food exists. Carpet beetles are hunters that feed themselves on a variety of animal products such as woolen, hides, feathers, hair, taxidermy specimens and dried meat. They also get their feed from dead insects such as boxelder bugs and attic flies that may be trapped in inner wall spaces. Carpet beetles do not stay where they obtain their food material from but instead crawl about, often for considerable distances. There are several species of beetles but four most common species of beetles are black carpet beetles, varied carpet beetles, common carpet beetles and furniture beetle. The adults feed themselves primarily on pollen and nectar and can be found on outdoor plants during the summer.
Carpet beetles are basically a small insect having oval shape. Normally they are very small in size like 1\4 inches or less in height. All these carpet beetle species have the same life history. Adults lay eggs on the larval food source, such as furs and woolen fabric or carpets. Eggs hatch in about 2 weeks and the larvae get their feed for varying periods, depending upon species and environmental conditions. They prefer dark, secluded places. When ready to pupate, the larvae may burrow further into the food or wander and burrow elsewhere. They may also pupate within the last larval skin if no other shelter is available.
Larvae do not make webs as clothes moths do. Instead, they shed skins and fecal pellets, which are about the size of a grain of salt. Carpet beetles vary in colour from brown to black mottle with yellow or white scales on the dorsal surface. Adult carpet beetles live outdoors on pollen and nectar and can also be found on walls and windows. Carpet beetles do not carry disease or bite, but the larval forms can cause damage to products such as wool, fur, leather and silk by leaving clean, irregular holes. In textiles, these generally occur around the seams. Carpets, rugs, under felt, wall hangings, clothing, wool insulation and insect collections are frequently damaged by these carpet beetles.
Prevention Measures: To prevent your property from carpet beetles, you have to properly spray and dust the place. Before applying prevention meaures, you must clean your floor first as mush as you can. Tenants can remain in the house but cannot touch treated areas until dried. Therefore pets and children must be kept out of contact with wet treated areas.
