Carpet Beetles can be persistent and a continual prevention regime is recommended. Warmer weather combined with centrally heated homes means that carpet beetle infestations have become a year-round problem.
Carpet beetles inhabit less disturbed and darker areas – behind sofas, along skirting boards and under bookcases by way of example. Regular vacuuming in these areas, moving furniture and opening curtains in lesser used rooms will all help to create a less desirable environment for carpet beetles to settle. Likewise, they can invade upholstered furniture, being attracted by natural fibres. It is the larvae (see image below), often referred to as 'wooly bears', that do the damage by eating natural animal based fibres such as woollen carpets.
A a four-stage process to deal with infestations is required:
1) Removal of the pests using thorough cleaning and vacuuming, taking care to get into all the nooks and crannies of your furniture with the finest nozzle attachment, and vacuuming deep into the pile on both sides of your carpet/rugs
2) Using ‘Fumers’ or 'Foggers', with will infiltrate every part of the room
3) Spraying a pesticide on affected and adjacent areas to kill and deter
4) Lay down an insect killing powder onto previously infested areas and along skirting boards to kill any remaining larvae or adult beetles that may have retreated.
Carpet beetles are not only one of the most stubborn pests in the home, but can also travel significant distances even when exposed to pesticides – consequently, repeat treatments may be necessary. The final two stages should be repeated 2-4 times per year to ensure the pests do not return. This may seem like a lot of effort, but any ‘cut corners’ will present an opportunity for a repeat infestation. Carpet beetles are very persistent pests and given their very small size, only thorough routines as outlined above will ensure their full eradication.
