What To Do About Carpet Beetles In Your Chester Springs Home

Identifying A Carpet Beetle Infestation

The first step to identifying a carpet beetle infestation is figuring out what carpet beetles are. These small, round-ish beetles can be black, brown, or a mix of colors. Varied carpet beetles have a mottled brown and white pattern. Carpet beetles are typically around ¼” long.
 
You’re likely to see carpet beetle larvae in your home. These pests are small and hairy. They can be between 1/8 and ¼” long and brown or black. They also have lighter-colored stripes along their backs. 
 
The problem with identifying a carpet beetle infestation is that the damage caused can easily be mistaken for damage done by clothes moths. But carpet beetles tend to chew through materials until there’s a hole. Clothes moths graze and don’t cause as many holes. 

The Damage A Carpet Beetle Infestation Can Create In Your Home

Although adult carpet beetles only eat nectar, they lay their eggs in fabrics and other soft materials. Thick fabrics, carpets and rugs, unused furniture, taxidermied animals, collections of hair and lint, and areas of the home that are less frequently used (like attics and basements) are all potential breeding grounds for carpet beetles. 
 
After carpet beetle eggs hatch, the larvae chew through whatever they’re on. They eat this way until they’re fully grown adults, and they’ll begin laying their eggs. You can see evidence of carpet beetles in these items. Look for holes in fabrics, especially near the edges of rugs. 

How Carpet Beetles Find Their Way Into Your Home

Adult carpet beetles come inside during the spring and summer to lay eggs. You might see them congregating near the windows of your home. They can also get inside through cracks or holes in the walls. Then once the eggs are laid inside, they’ll hatch there, and the life cycle will continue inside your home. So, getting rid of carpet beetles as soon as you know they’re there is essential. 

The Best Way To Get Rid Of Carpet Beetles In Your House

The best way to not have a carpet beetle infestation is to prevent it from happening in the first place. Here are a few tips to keep beetles out of your home.

• Seal cracks in the walls

These pests are small so they can get inside through small spaces. Use caulk or other materials to cover up these holes so carpet beetles (and other pests) can’t get inside

• Ensure doors and windows are securely attached

If gaps are under exterior doors or along the edges of windows, that can provide an entrance for carpet beetles. Additionally, you should make sure that all screens are intact. All it takes is one open, screenless window for an infestation to begin.

• Store items in airtight, close-fitting containers

Before you put winter clothes or other unused items into storage, place them into airtight containers. This will keep carpet beetles from being able to get into them. You should also launder or dry clean everything you can before storing, just in case eggs are already laid.

• Vacuum regularly

If they can’t get to more comfortable items, carpet beetles sometimes lay eggs in clumps of pet hair, lint, and dust. Vacuuming your home regularly can eliminate even more potential breeding places. 

• Call a professional pest control company

Any infestation can be tricky to handle, and carpet beetles are no exception. Plus, since they actively damage your belongings, an infestation should get taken care of as soon as possible. By calling a professional company, you can ensure that all the carpet beetles are gone.
 
Masters Touch Pest Solutions offers a wide range of pest control services, including carpet beetle treatment. After an inspection, our pest management professionals will create a plan to get your home beetle-free as quickly as possible. If you have carpet beetles in your Chester Springs home, it’s time to call the professionals. Contact Masters Touch Pest Solutions today for all your Chester Springs pest control needs!