Pest Control Database - Carpet Beetle

Carpet Beetle (Anthrenus Verbasci)

The carpet beetle is a pest of animal products and occasionally food products of plant origin. Consequently, they may be found wherever these commodities are stored or handled. carpet beetles are now one of the major pests of textiles, their success being attributed to central heating, which ensures uniform temperatures, and to the increasing use of wall-to-wall carpeting, which allows the carpet beetle to breed undisturbed.

Significance

Larval forms of the carpet beetle can cause considerable damage to keratin-containing products such as wool, fur, leather, silk and dried animals remains. Occasionally, food products of plant origin, such as cereals and fibres, will also be attacked.

Damage takes the form of clean, irregular holes and in textiles these generally occur around seams. There is no webbing or excrement present and by the time the carpet beetle larvae are observed, considerable damage has often been done. Because of the large number of larval moults, when cast larval skins are seen they tend to exaggerate the extent of the infestations.

Carpet beetles are a limited significance as a health hazard, although they are potential vectors of anthrax. In certain situations the larval hairs cause skin irritation to those exposed to large numbers of the insects.

The wandering habits of carpet beetles mean that they frequently infest wide areas, thus it is important to trace the source of infestation. Infested nests and animal remains should be removed and burnt if possible.

Contact Attack Pest Control today to eliminate your carpet beetle problem.

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