Carpet Beetle Pest Control

It can sometimes be hard to identify a particular pest that’s invading your property. If you’re finding holes in your clothes, carpets, curtains and other fabrics, though, it could be a sign that you’re sharing your space with carpet beetles.

Contrary to their name, carpet beetles enjoy munching on far more than just carpets. But what exactly are they, how can you identify them, and what’s the best form of carpet beetle pest control? Find out below…

There are various species of carpet beetles that live in the UK. They start off as larvae – called ‘woolly bear’ – which have banded bodies and short bristles and measure up to 5mm long, before turning into adult beetles around 2mm to 4mm in length. The most common types are variegated carpet beetles, named after their variegated patterns in different colours, and black carpet beetles which, as the name suggests, are black in colour.

From April to June, adult carpet beetles head off in search of nesting sites. While they may lay eggs outdoors in places like bird nests, they also love feather-stuffed cushions, pillows and duvets, as well as carpets, clothing, even cuddly toys. In homes and businesses, the most likely places you’ll find them are along the edges of carpets, inside wardrobes and underneath furniture: areas where they are unlikely to be disturbed.

The reason they’re attracted to such natural fibres is because these provide food for the grubs that hatch from their eggs – and they can lay up to 100 eggs at one time. It’s not the adult beetles that cause the damage: it’s their young. With adult beetles producing so many young, though, it’s important to tackle the problem quickly.

Holes in fabrics within your home or business can, of course, be a sign of a moth infestation, so when should you call in the carpet beetle pest control team?

Keep your eyes peeled for bald patches in carpets and other fabrics made with natural fibres, as well as holes along fabric seams. You may also spot larvae skins when they moult as they develop – and look out for adult beetles, too. These winged creatures can enter your property through open windows, so you may spot them near window sills or doors as they make their entrance.

Often, home and business owners will not realise they have a carpet beetle infestation until the damage is already done. Stable temperatures from central heating and wall-to-wall carpets – especially where there are plenty of areas that are relatively undisturbed – provide the perfect breeding conditions for carpet beetles. The more they breed, the worse the damage to the fabrics inside the property will be: it’s vital to treat the issue as soon as you spot it.

Because adult beetles fly and the young wander so freely, it’s possible for an infestation to cover a wide area. Your challenge? To establish both the source and the spread of the infestation.

Infested materials should be removed and disposed of where possible, and treated with professional solutions if this can’t be done. Your aim is to kill all of the larvae – and it’s a seriously challenging task without the right tools.

That’s where professional pest control services come in. By calling in professional pest control for carpet beetles, you’ll ensure that they are fully eradicated – and Pest Stop Boys can help.

Here at Pest Stop Boys, we offer a three-step carpet beetle pest control service.

We begin with inspection: conducting a thorough evaluation of your property. Here, we confirm whether it’s carpet beetles or another pest that is causing the problems. If it does turn out to be carpet beetles, we’ll locate all potential breeding areas and work to understand the extent of the infestation.

We follow this with treatment, and we have a variety of treatment options in our arsenal. We’ll always consider the environment and both human and animal occupants of the property when choosing a treatment, and we prioritise non-toxic methods. Of course, there are some infestations so great that only a chemical solution will suit, but whatever treatment we choose we have one goal: to ensure complete eradication of both adult beetles and their larvae.

Finally, we’ll talk with you about carpet beetle prevention. There are many preventative measures you can take to stop them coming back. These include regular and thorough cleaning: they can thrive on dirty carpets where they’ll eat dead skin, insects and even hairs. There are also proofing measures that you can use, such as sealing gaps and cracks around windows and doors, using bug nets over doors and windows, and inspecting both plants and fabric items before bringing them inside.

Booking a consultation for our carpet beetle pest control service couldn’t be easier. Visit our Contact Us Page to tell us more about your situation, and we’ll be in touch with further questions so we can establish the solution that’s needed.

While a few threadbare carpets may not seem like a priority with everything else you have going on, we urge you to take immediate action if you suspect a carpet beetle infestation. The longer you leave them, the greater the damage will be – and the harder the infestation will be to eliminate.

Contact Pest Stop Boys today to schedule a carpet beetle inspection and treatment service. Protect your carpets and fabrics from further damage with our expert pest control solutions.