In October, I received a phone call from an owner of a beach house here on the Banks.  She asked me if I was familiar with “Carpet Beetles”,  I was not.  I have heard of them, but have never encountered a carpet Beetle.  So, I figured I would do some research on these little critters.

As it turns out these little guys aren’t common to the Outer Banks at all – granted it is possible to have them brought into your home from your guests.  However, both Pest Control companies I spoke with agree that the chances of you having a Carpet Beetle infestation is very unlikely here on the Outer Banks.

So, I was thinking since i didn’t know much about Carpet Beetles I wanted to share my research with you.  Enjoy!

Also, my client didn’t have carpet beetles, it turns out she had fleas.

What Do Carpet Beetles Feed On?

Carpet beetles feed on a variety of animal-based materials including wool, fur, silk, feathers and leather. Items commonly infested include wool sweaters, coats, blankets, carpets, down pillows and comforters, and upholstered furniture. Synthetic fabrics such as polyester and rayon are rarely attacked unless they are heavily soiled with food stains or body oils.

They prefer to feed in dark, undisturbed areas such as closets, attics, within boxes where woolens and furs are stored, along and under the edges of carpeting, underneath upholstered furniture, and in air ducts where they feed on lint, pet hair and other bits of debris.

Carpet beetle infestations may also originate from bird or animal nests or an animal carcass present in an attic, chimney or wall void. They also occasionally feed on seeds, pet food or cereal products in the kitchen or pantry.

Control

Legally, no pest control company can tell you that a flea insecticide can be used for carpet beetles and vice-versa.  However, the companies I spoke with would use the flea product to kill carpet beetles in there own home, if they ever had them.  To be honest it is rather hard for them to find insecticides formulated just for carpet beetles.

The best way to avoid carpet beetle problems is through prevention. Woolens and other susceptible fabrics should be dry cleaned or laundered before being stored for long periods. Cleaning not only removes perspiration odors that are attractive to the beetles, but also kills any eggs or larvae that may be present. Articles to be stored should then be packed with moth balls or flakes in tight-fitting containers. Insecticides should not be used to treat clothing. However, mothproofing solutions may be applied to susceptible clothing by professional dry cleaners.

Routine vacuuming effectively removes carpet beetles which are already present, as well as hair and lint which could support future infestations. Particular attention while vacuuming should be paid to the edges of carpets, along baseboards, underneath furniture and similar “quiet” areas where carpet beetles prefer to feed.

Insecticide applications directed into infested areas are often useful as a supplement to good housekeeping. Products containing active ingredients such as chlorpyrifos, permethrin, bendiocarb and allethrin are effective against carpet beetles. Sprays may be applied to carpets (especially beneath and along the edge adjacent to the baseboard), underneath furniture and other likely areas of infestation where prolonged contact with humans is unlikely. Clothing and bedding should not be sprayed and should be removed before treatment.

Control of carpet beetles requires patience and a thorough inspection to locate all sources of infestation. Elimination of widespread, ongoing infestations may require the services of a professional pest control operator.

Information was researched from University of Kentucky, University of Colorado and Outer Banks Based Pest Control Companies.

1.  Keep walkway and entries clean to eliminate tracking and debris.
2.  Use mats to trap soil at entries to protect carpets and reduce the quantity of particles that eventually becoming airborne.
3.  Clean shoes at entries to reduce fine particles such as lead.
4.  Use quality vacuum equipment. Check the Carpet and Rug Institute’s list of vacuums that passed the Green Label Program at: www.carpet-rug.com.
5.  Use high-efficiency vacuum filter bags. Small particles can pass through inexpensive paper filter bags.
6.  Vacuum frequently before soils become embedded in the carpet.
7.  Use quality reusable electrostatic filters for HVAC systems. Remove and flush them free of collected soils monthly.
8.  Have the carpet cleaned professionally. To find a certified technician, check with the IICRC at (800) 835-4624 or www.iicrc.org.
9.  Clean upholstery, drapery, bedding and other fabric surfaces; wash linens weekly.
10.  Control moisture and humidity to keep down dust mites and mold.

These widely used comments have stemmed from unfortunate encounters with uninformed
cleaners that have left the carpet with an overload of detergent residue. The consumer has assumed that this is the case with all carpet cleaning and resolved to wait until the carpet is in dire straights to clean it.

The good news is that a properly cleaned carpet will not re-soil as quickly and will actually last
longer. Why? Because damaging soils are removed with effective cleaning. Soil that is
not removed by vacuuming, even though it can rarely be seen by the naked eye, cuts and slices
on the carpet fibers as the carpet is being walked on breaking down the carpet yarns in the
traffic areas. The result is that even with restorative cleaning at that point, it will not correct the damage that has been done to the fiber. Fiber producers and carpet manufacturers recommend that a residential carpet should be professionally cleaned at least 18 to 24 months for best performance, more often in heavily trafficked and heavy soiling situations.

A Clean Carpet is a Healthy Carpet

Not to mention that a carpet that is not cleaned on a regular basis is an unhealthy carpet. Carpet is like a filter. It collects soils, pollens, insecticides, exhaust, etc. that gets tracked in or blown in from the polluted outdoors. This creates and unhealthy indoor environment.