Are you tired of the carpet beetles infesting your beautiful carpets? Do you keep wondering what makes them come, spread, ruin your carpets and leave you staring at the irreparable damage done? We have gathered quite the information that you need to know about these little nibblers. By the end of this blog, you will consider yourself knowledgeable enough to close your doors for carpet beetles forever.
Carpet beetles can fly in your house through windows or doors. Once they reproduce, they can become a spreading nuisance. One room after another gets infested by them. Proper cleaning can help you get rid of them. Preventive measures include vacuuming, sprays and boric acid.
How do carpet beetles spread?
Carpet beetles are part of the pest family. They feed on animal-based products and infest your carpets.
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Adult carpet beetles feed on pollen and have the ability to fly. Hence, they can enter your home through cracks, windows or doors. They can also come in with flowery plants or hitch a ride on an animal’s skin. These can already be present in a used furniture item you bring in your home.
Once carpet beetles are indoors, they are likely to mate near light sources. The females prefer laying eggs where food sources for the larvae are abundant. So, I would say a carpeted home is one of the best options for them.
Why do they spread so quickly?
After carpet beetles enter your home, they invade different rooms very rapidly. Why does this happen? The answer to this lies mostly in the study of their reproduction habits.
The females can lay 35 to 100 eggs at once. This massive figure hints at the trouble larvae will cause after they hatch. The infestation will be extremely quick since they will be so many. You probably won’t be able to spot them due to their tiny size, but they will gnaw on your carpets all along.
Another reason for their vast and speedy spread in our home environment is the availability of their favorite feed. This includes a variety of items containing animal protein like wool, leather, fabric material and hair. They are also attracted to synthetic fibers that are spilled over with food or oil just like our carpets.
Carpets also provide them with their ideal living and feeding environment that is dark and undisturbed. This lifestyle coupled with the availability of vast carpeted areas results in the vigorous spread of carpet beetle larvae in your furnished home.
Are carpet beetles seasonal?
Do you think if carpet beetles ever take a break? I am sorry but the answer to this is negative.
Carpet beetle larvae hatch in spring or early summer. Due to their long life span, they aren’t exactly seasonal. Unfortunately, they can have you on your toes all year long. I agree that it sounds inconvenient and must be so frustrating.
Adult carpet beetles rise in spring. Keep in mind that their main food source is pollen, so it does make sense. Generally, carpet beetles do tend to be more active in warmer weather. Those hiding in vents and attics come out when it gets hot.
WARNING
DOUBLE TROUBLE
A study showed that carpet beetles reproduce at a much quicker pace in higher temperatures. This means you have to be more cautious in summers. Your home can be exposed to hundreds of larvae and resulting infestations.
Where will they most likely spread in your house?
Their favorite hideouts are dark and quiet places.
Other than the floor carpets, these include attics, basements, air ducts or similar areas. They are also known to feed on dead insects in the walls and chimneys. This is one of the reasons why an infestation can be overlooked.
Adult carpet beetles can be found in flowers and plants. The larvae are greatly known for their ability to digest keratin that is found in animal-based materials.
That species is specifically named as furniture carpet beetles. Those tend to penetrate in your furniture, feed on hair, upholstery or padding. They will widely spread without any warning signs for quite some time.
Carpet beetle larvae also feed on grains or dry food. This poses a real threat to your pantry full of cereals and snacks. I am sure no one likes pests near food items. So, preventive measures are necessary.
Some carpet beetles also attack warm clothes as they are put away for the summer. They have a blast in there by feeding off your precious sweaters and coats. An infestation along with resulting damage can be spotted in the form of large holes in the garments.
5 awesome tips to stop carpet beetles from spreading
Carpet beetle infestation is a recurring problem in normal households. Below are a few simple tips that I am positive will help you protect your expensive carpets from pest damage.
Tip 1: Spray insecticide around your house
Prevention from carpet beetles starts from the exterior of your house. It is essential to spray an insecticide in the soil that surrounds your house. Don’t forget to spray near the windows and doors. This will make sure that the entry points of the pests are taken care of.
Tip 2: Inspect certain items before bringing indoors
It is viable to scan any flowers, plants or furniture items that you bring in your home. These have proven to be home and feed for carpet beetles. You can’t stop bringing these indoors but take your time to inspect them for possible pests.
Tip 3: Clean regularly
Thorough cleaning is the quickest way to remove carpet beetles from your carpeting. It also prevents their spread. You should make a habit of vacuuming your home every other day. All the fabric-covered areas should be your priority. Professional cleaning once a while can be considerably useful.
Tip 4: Use insecticide or boric acid
An insecticide is useful for areas you can’t wash. Spray it on the edges of carpets, closet walls, shelves and cracks. Avoid spraying on bedding or clothing. Boric acid can be sprinkled in areas that are harder to reach. These include wall voids, attics, crevices, etc.
BE CAREFUL
1. Make sure you are wearing gloves while handling an insecticide spray or boric acid.
2. Leave the area after spraying while the insecticide disperses in the air.
3. Avoid applying boric acid on dark materials as it has a bleaching effect.
Tip 5: Throw away infested fabrics
If any of your clothing or fabric materials have been ruined by carpet beetles, you should discard them as soon as possible. This is a vital step to safeguard the rest of your carpets and fabrics.
If you’re tired of this pest problem, our blog post, How to get rid of carpet beetles? is the answer.
Conclusion
That’s a wrap. You must be feeling confident as now you know how carpet beetles spread. This knowledge will significantly help you in keeping your home sweet home protected from pest invasion.
Carpet beetles stay in your home because a variety of their natural feed is present. Their unnoticed spread is what makes them dangerous for your household items and difficult to exterminate.
I believe you can do it. Just make a habit of vacuuming regularly. Don’t let hidden spots get ignored. A little care, and it will be a no from you to the carpet beetles.