text: Yes! They Will Do Carpets and Clothes - HOrT COCO-UC Master Gardener Program of Contra Costa - ANR Blogs Yes! They Will Do Carpets and Clothes - HOrT COCO-UC Master Gardener Program of Contra Costa - ANR Blogs
  Yes! They Will Do Carpets and Clothes
  Client's Questions and Concerns:
  Client called about finding a "wormy" bug in the wood frame of her son's bunk bed. She wanted to know what it is and what she should do about it. We told her that we could probably identify the bug if she submitted good photos, but that the fastest way to get a positive identification of the bug would be to bring it to the CCMG Help Desk office in a closed plastic envelope or sealed jar.
  cast larval skin (left)
  & adults (ctr & rt)
  Thank you for dropping off an insect for identification at the Master Gardener help desk. The insect you left us is a carpet beetle larva. Carpet beetles belong to the family of beetles known as dermestids. There are three types of carpet beetles commonly found and of concern-- Varied (Anthrenus verbasci), Furniture (Anthrenus flavipes), and Black (Attagenus unicolor). All three carpet beetles are pests in warehouses, homes, and other locations where suitable food exists. Adults lay eggs on a larval food source such as woolen fabric or carpets or furs. Eggs hatch in about two weeks, and the larvae feed for varying periods, depending upon environmental conditions. Damage occurs during the larval stage only. Larvae feed in dark, undisturbed locations and on a variety of dead animals and animal products such as wool, silk, leather, fur, hair brushes with natural bristles, pet hair, and feathers; occasionally they feed on stored products such as certain spices and grains. They don't feed on synthetic fibers.
  Furniture carpet beetle larva (lt)
  Carpet beetles are among the most difficult indoor pests to control because of their ability to find food in obscure places and to disperse widely throughout a building. Successful control depends on a combination of sanitation and exclusion. If sanitation and exclusion are successful, insecticide treatments aren't required. If you have found just this one larva, you probably don't have an extensive infestation.
  Black carpet beetle larva (lt)
  & adult (rt)
  Elimination includes the accumulations of lint, hair, dead insects, and other debris that serve as food for carpet beetles. Throw out badly infested items. Remove old spider webs and bird, rodent, bee, and wasp nests, which can harbor infestations. Be sure that window screens, doors, and vents are secure to keep carpet beetles from flying in from outdoor sources. Regular and thorough cleaning of rugs, draperies, upholstered furniture, closets, and other locations where carpet beetles congregate is an important preventive and control technique. Frequent, thorough vacuuming is an effective way of removing food sources as well as carpet beetle eggs, larvae, and adults. After vacuuming infested areas, dispose of the collected material and/or bag promptly, because it can contain eggs, larvae, or adult insects.
  Here is a link for further information from the University of California about managing carpet beetles: http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn7436.html
  Tags: black carpet beetles (1), carpet beetles (1), furniture beetles (1), larvae (1)
  on January 3, 2016 at 4:06 PM
  how do you get rid of those black beetles ..and they stink too
  on January 3, 2016 at 4:58 PM
  HOrt COCO editor here:
  I believe the posted blog gives you a fairly good summary of what to do, but I would capture several of the bugs and either take good closeup pictures of the bug and transmit them via email to the MGCC Help Desk or bring them into the MGCC Help Desk in Pleasant Hill for positive identification (details are at the bottom of the blog). The blog post describes how and where to contact and/or visit the Help Desk during office hours. The reference given in the blog which you can download (free) from UC gives even further detailed information beyond the summary in the blog post.
  If you are "lucky" and there is just one carpet beetle or larvae, you may not have to do much... but as the blog indicates, if you have found several, you are probably going to have to do some serious sanitation and exclusion to eliminate them.
  In summary, we again recommend that you get a positive identification of the "beetle" and that you read again the blog as well as the UC Pest Note at http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn7436.html.
  The MGCC Help Desk looks forward to further contact via the Help Desk email and/or phone to provide you with the identification and information on elimination of the "beetle".
  I've just discovered these guys in the trunk of my car. I intend to shampoo and vacuum but would a bug bomb aid in the elimination of these guys using my ride as a mobile home? I had a couple rag's and a towel and an old buton up shirt hanging out in my trunk for awhile now, figure they must have snuck in from the field by my work where I park and found those old rags as food and shelter.
  on March 30, 2017 at 11:56 AM
  apologies for late response... apparently got by me...
  Don't really have a source to go to for the "official" answer, but yes a household bug bomb should work... I do suggest letting it air out after you apply the bug bomb and cleaning so that next time you open the trunk you aren't "bombed" as well.
  by shira willson
  on June 7, 2019 at 4:44 AM
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  by Anna Dawn
  on January 15, 2020 at 9:30 PM
  This is really a common and stressful problem. These bugs are difficult to control because these are tiny and expert in escaping. It also occur in furniture. To know more visit https://www.silvawardrobeco.com.au/built-in-wardrobes/