Do you know that Houston residents often see carpet beetles long before they realize they have a carpet beetle problem? A big reason for this is that they don't know what carpet beetles look like. Today, we're going to tell you how to detect carpet beetles in your house (and on the exterior of your home), and what to do when you see them.

What Carpet Beetles Look Like

If you go to the internet to see what carpet beetles look like, you can still miss these beetles when you see them in your home or on the exterior of your home. While you may learn that some species are a mottled brown, black, and white, some species are entirely black, and some have a fiery orange stripe down the center of a mottled black and white coloration, you can still miss them. Why? Because a carpet beetle can be as small as ⅛ of an inch long. That's really small! It is so small that you're going to have to look closely to see the patterns of color that you could see easily in internet pictures.

Another reason you might not realize you're looking at a carpet beetle is that it isn't a beetle. What? Plot twist! Carpet beetles aren't always beetles. When a carpet beetle hatches from its egg, it is in its larval form. The larvae of carpet beetles aren't beetles; they're hairy little grubs. Adult carpet beetles are the beetle form of these pests. It is important that you understand this.

What's more, it is important to note that a carpet beetle will spend most of its life as a grub, not a beetle. When you see these beetles in your home, it could be evidence of carpet beetle infestation that has gone on for as many as 630 days if you have varied carpet beetles (Anthrenus verbasci) in your home. That could be very bad, depending on how many of these pests you have in your home.

The Damage A Carpet Beetle Infestation Can Create In Your Home

Carpet beetles don't damage your belongings. What? Did I just read that correctly? Yes, you did. Carpet beetles don't feed on the materials your belongings are made of, such as wool, fur, leather, feathers, hair, and other natural materials. Adult carpet beetles eat nectar. It is only destructive in its larval form. This is important to know because catching one tiny little carpet beetle in your home can prevent years of damage.

When you find one little carpet beetle in your home, does it mean you're in trouble? No. It could be a male or unfertilized female that got in through an open door or a gap in your exterior. If so, it won't lay eggs in your home. It is also possible that you don't have an abundance of food in your home and a fertilized female may not find an appropriate location to lay her eggs - or she may not survive long enough to lay eggs. But, when you find a carpet beetle crawling in your house, you shouldn't ignore it. Take heed of the sign and take steps to protect your property.

What if you find dead carpet beetles in your furniture, on your floor, in a storage box, or in any other location? If you see dead carpet beetles or shed carpet beetle larvae skins, it is definitely time to take action.

Why You Should Call The Pros About Carpet Beetles In Your Home

Carpet beetles can damage your stuff. A licensed professional knows how to get rid of carpet beetles and guard your property against damage. If you attempt to control carpet beetles on your own, you may allow these pests to damage something valuable. If you've detected carpet beetles in your Houston home, contact All-Safe Pest & Termite for a residential pest control treatment.

How To Prevent Future Carpet Beetle Infestations In Your House

Once those beetles are gone - what next? There are many ways you can deter carpet beetles from getting into your home again. Here are some of our best suggestions:

• Replace exterior white lights. Carpet beetles are attracted to white light. If you take white bulbs out and insert yellow bulbs, you can remove this attractant. This is particularly useful around exterior doors. One main reason carpet beetles get inside is that they fly in when doors are opened.

• Use a caulking gun to seal gaps around window and door frames. These gaps are a common entry point.

• Address flowering weed problems. If you have weeds in your landscaping or lawn that have little flowers on them, you're going to draw adult carpet beetles into your yard. This will increase the chances that they'll get into your home.

Keep in mind that ongoing pest control service for your perimeter can keep carpet beetles, and a long list of other common household pests, out of your home. Contact All-Safe Pest & Termite for pest control in Houston. We can guide you toward the right pest control plan for your home. There is no better way to keep carpet beetles out.

I have been with them for several years. They are always responsive if any issues arise, and are completely on top of our quarterly treatments. I love it, because I don’t have…

Joanna P.

Invisible Invaders: Ghost Ant Control Strategies Unveiled In Dallas

December 8, 2023

Are ghost ants invisible here in Dallas? Learn more about these pests today and find a great way to avoid an ant infestation locally.

Read More

Eliminating Rodent Risks: Effective Strategies For Business Rodent Control In…

December 7, 2023

Are you looking to protect your business from rodents? Discover effective strategies for business rodent control in Frisco.

Read More

Spider Prevention Made Easy: A Comprehensive Guide For Sugar Land Homeowners

November 30, 2023

Spiders are a common menace to homeowners in the Sugar Land area. These creepy arachnids are the cause of a lot of issues in the home.

Read More