Pest Spotlight: Carpet Beetles In Frisco

Concerts today are a spectacle. Technology provides dazzling light shows, phenomenal special effects, and audio experiences beyond what people in the past could have imagined were possible. It is easy to get lost in the immersive activity and become distracted by the sights and sounds in a concert. Although technological advancements have enhanced the concert experience, one feature has not changed; the spotlight. Spotlights are brighter and more accurate than 100 years ago, but no technology can replace their necessity because they keep the focus on the performer. 

There are many pests in a yard clamoring to enter a house. In this article, we will spotlight an insect that doesn't receive as much attention as wasps, bees, cockroaches, or ants, but it is problematic for many Frisco homeowners. We are exposing this pest by focusing a bright light on it so that you can identify it when it invades your house. What is the creature? It is the carpet beetle. 

If you realize carpet beetles are the source of damage in your house, you need pest control in Frisco from All-Safe Pest & Termite. For decades we have removed carpet beetles and other pests from homes. Our dedication to quality and customer service has earned us numerous awards, like being the "Top Pick" for pest control in an independent survey of over 10,000 metroplex homeowners. Please continue to read as we shine the light on carpet beetles so you can determine if you have carpet beetles in your Frisco home.

How To Tell If It's Carpet Beetles In Your Home

Carpet beetles are so-called because they attack carpets, rugs, garments, and other items containing keratin when they are in the larval stage of development. However, they are not the only pest that damages upholstery and fabrics. Crickets and webbing moths also damage these items. How can you determine if the holes you see are from moths, crickets, or carpet moths? 

To help you identify whether or not carpet beetles are the problematic pest, look for the following:

• Carpet beetles
• Discarded skins
• Droppings
• Location of damage

Before we discuss the list in detail, you need to understand the terminology. Carpet beetles are insects that go through four development stages: egg, larvae, pupa, and adult. 

If a fertilized female enters a home, she will lay 35 to 100 eggs (the number of eggs depends upon the species). If the room temperature is around 77-78℉, larvae will emerge from the eggs in two to three weeks. For the next 220 to 630 days, the larvae will feed on keratin-containing items before pupating, a phase that lasts for two to three weeks before entering the adult stage. Once the beetles become adults, they only live for two to six weeks. 

Now that we know life-cycle terminology, we can identify the three types of carpet beetles in Texas: the common carpet beetle, the furniture carpet beetle, and the varied carpet beetle.  

Carpet beetles look similar to ladybugs but have different colors and markings. Adult common carpet beetles have oval, 1/8-inch black bodies with white spots and a red streak down their backs. Furniture adult carpet beetles have a round 1/8-inch yellow, white, and black body. The varied carpet adult beetle has a round 1/16-inch body with irregular white, brown, and yellow patches. The larvae carpet beetles are brown or reddish-brown and have hair covering their bodies. One distinctive feature of furniture carpet beetle larvae is one long hair that continually vibrates.

Look at your window sills for another indicator of carpet beetles. Sunlight is an attractant for adult carpet beetles. Therefore, they fly around the windows when they are inside a house. The presence of dead carpet beetles in window sills indicates they are in your Frisco house.

Carpet beetles are insects, and a feature of insects is their skeleton covers their body (exoskeleton). For an insect to grow (molt), it must shed its exoskeleton to allow its body to expand. Depending upon the species, carpet moths go through six to twelve growth stages (instars), and each instar requires shedding the old exoskeleton. The presence of bristly-looking discarded shells is another sign of a carpet beetle infestation.

Carpet beetle droppings in your home are another sign of an invasion. Larvae eat keratin-containing products because they can digest the materials and receive nutrition. As they feast on the fabrics, they produce excrement resembling sand. Salt-like grains on garments or around damaged areas indicate a carpet beetle problem.

The absence of webbing rules out fabric-eating moths, but how do you know crickets are not causing damage? Although crickets are not known for fabric damage, they will consume materials polluted with sweat, food, and body oils. Unlike carpet moths, crickets are not choosy regarding materials, but carpet beetles will not consume materials synthetic blends, like rayon or polyester, unless they are heavily soiled. Furthermore, you will probably hear crickets in the early morning or evening if they are inside your home. 

If you see signs of carpet beetles in your house, you need our experts from All-Safe Pest & Termite to come to your rescue before these pests destroy clothing and other precious items.

The Damage A Carpet Beetle Infestation Can Create In Your Home

Adult carpet beetles fly on warm, sunny days. During those days, they enter homes through unscreened doors or windows. They may also access a home's interior by hitchhiking a ride on a person's clothing or plants. Unlike the larvae that feed on keratin-containing materials, adult carpet beetles consume pollen and nectar on plants. Fresh-cut flowers or plants brought in from the outside inside may have carpet beetles inside them. 

Once larvae hatch from the eggs, they begin eating, and during the six months to almost two years, they feast on the following:

• Carpets and rugs
• Natural fabrics 
• Upholstered furniture
• Stuffed animals
• Feathers, furs, and hides
• Musical instrument bows and piano hammers
• Dead insects
• Dried meats
• Glue boards

Carpet beetle larvae will eat any product containing keratin. They feed on keratin because the fibrous animal protein provides them with nutrition. Although they prefer natural wool, silk, cotton, and linen, they will eat carpets, upholstered furniture, rugs, and garments containing a blend of fabrics if they are soiled heavily with body oils or food. 

Carpet beetles create holes in items, but so do moths. How do you know which pest is the problem? Webbing moths leave voids scattered throughout the product, but carpet moths tend to confine their eating to an area in the item. If a section has a concentration of holes, the infestation is likely from carpet beetles. 

Destruction from carpet beetles occurs on seldom-used items in storage closets, boxes, or chests. Periodically examine the hems, cuffs, collars, and other folds of clothing for damage. Examine pillows, comforters, sweaters, etc., in storage for signs of carpet beetles. 

In addition to damaging items with animal fibrous protein, allergy-sensitive people can experience an allergic reaction carpet beetle rash. Carpet beetle larvae have hairs that they release when they progress through the growth stages. These hairs can become airborne, and when individuals in the home inhale the hairs or consume them, they can trigger allergic reactions. Furthermore, as the discarded skins deteriorate, particles may become airborne and cause itchy eyes, runny nose, and other allergy-related problems. Some people develop a rash from contact with carpet beetle hair. 

If you experience hay fever-like symptoms or see holes in stored clothing, you need carpet beetle extermination near you from All-Safe Pest & Termite. Once our trained technicians remove the beetles, the symptoms will disappear, and you can rest easy knowing that your clothing is no longer in danger. 

What's The Best Way To Get Rid Of Carpet Beetles?

Although you may see adult carpet beetles flying near windows, larvae remain hidden in obscure places. How do you fight an enemy you cannot see? The best way to get rid of carpet beetles is to secure the professionals from All-Safe Pest & Termite.

Our process begins by discussing the problem over the phone. When you schedule an inspection, a highly trained technician will also discuss the situation to learn more about your experiences and concerns. Afterward, our licensed technician will inspect your house for signs of a carpet beetle infestation. Once we determine the problem, we will develop a custom plan to treat your home. Our treatments will eradicate the carpenter beetle population and create a barrier around the house.

How To Prevent Future Carpet Beetle Infestations In Your House

Carpet beetles fly around your home during the warm months. Although All-Safe Pest & Termite will create a barrier around your Frisco house to keep carpet beetles and other pests away, you can ensure complete success by doing the following: 

• Vacuum rugs and carpets regularly
• Sweep the backside and edges of rugs
• Wash and dry stored clothing periodically
• Store clothing in sealed, airtight containers
• Repair holes in window and door screens
• Install door sweeps on exterior doors
• Inspect plants and flowers before bringing them into the house
• Store dry goods in sealable containers

Treatments by All-Safe Pest & Termite and maintaining a clean home protect clothing, rugs, and other items from carpenter beetles. Contact All-Safe Pest & Termite to learn more about our home pest control plans and to get a free estimate.