As a homeowner, you might be worried about black carpet beetles, since their larvae can cause damage to your belongings. The black carpet beetle, or Attagenus unicolor, is a common household pest. Black carpet beetle larvae eat just about anything, from animal by-products (wool, hides and feathers) to natural fibers and plant products (vegetables, grains and cereals).
If you’re dealing with a black carpet beetle problem, your best option is to contact pest control professionals to handle these pests. You can also ask them questions like, “When do mosquitoes come out?”
What Do Black Carpet Beetles Look Like?
Adult black carpet beetles are small, oval-shaped insects, typically one-eighth to three-sixteenths of an inch long. They are dark brown or black, with a shiny, smooth appearance. Their larvae are light brown to black and covered in bristly hairs, growing up to a quarter inch long. The larvae have a long, elongated and carrot-shaped body covered with curly golden-brown hair on their tails.
Behavior and Habits of Black Carpet Beetles
Black carpet beetles can live anywhere, including your home or garden, but prefer quiet, undisturbed spaces. Indoors, this pest often lives in closets, attics, basements, crawl spaces and under furniture. Outdoors, you’ll find them in garden areas under litter or garden debris, around flowering plants, in bird nests or animal burrows, under rocks and in wall cracks and crevices.
Black carpet beetles are general feeders that consume various food sources. As larvae, they feed on organic matter such as wool, carpets, silk, leather, leather book bindings and lint. Adults feed on pollen and nectar from flowering plants like crape myrtles, Queen Anne’s lace, buckwheat, daisies and wild asters. Understanding the habits of black carpet beetles is important in controlling their spread.
Black Carpet Beetle Life Cycle
Black carpet beetles have four stages in their life cycle: egg, larva, pupa and adult. Depending on food availability and other environmental factors, the full life cycle may take two months to two years.
Here’s a breakdown of their different life stages.
Egg
A mature female black carpet beetle usually lays 50 to 90 small white eggs indoors in lint cracks or near food sources. In warm weather, the eggs usually hatch in 6 to 11 days, but they may take longer (5 to 16 days) in cooler weather.
Larva
After hatching, black carpet beetles move into the larva stage, where they live for 3 months to 2 years before pupating, depending on temperature, humidity and food availability. They undergo 5 to 20 molts before maturity, and an abundance of molten skins is a clear sign of an infestation. Black carpet beetles are most destructive in this stage as their bodies rapidly grow, and their appetite is huge.
Pupa
After feeding and growing, the black carpet beetles move into the pupa stage, which lasts 6 to 24 days. In this transitory stage, the pupa forms a cocoon, is immobile, doesn’t eat anything and prefers dark, undisturbed spaces.
Adult
This is the final stage of the black carpet beetle’s life cycle. After pupating, the adult emerges, ready to mate and reproduce. Adult black carpet beetles prefer to stay outdoors and can live for nine months to three years.
Why Are Black Carpet Beetles a Problem?
Black carpet beetles can cause damage to your home. In the larval phase, these pests can destroy valuable household items if left unchecked, eating large, irregular holes through them. Common targets include wool clothing, rugs, carpets, upholstered furniture and curtains. They prefer to feed on the surface of wool products or at the base of furs, leaving bare spots on the hide. They may also infest stored food products, including grains, flour cereal and dried pet food.
Despite their destructive habits, black carpet beetles can be managed. Small infestations can often be controlled through cleaning and preventive measures. However, if you notice widespread damage or signs of activity, reach out to pest control professionals. They can provide a tailored solution.
What Are Black Carpet Beetles Attracted to?
Black carpet beetles are attracted to many different things, including the following.
Food Sources
Black carpet beetle larvae are attracted to organic matter rich in oils, proteins and fiber, which act as food sources. These include animal-based materials (wool rugs, silk garments and leather furniture), stored foods (grains, cereals, flour, dried fruits, nuts and dried pet foods) and plant-based materials (dried flowers, herbs, pollen and nectar).
Light and Warmth
Adult black carpet beetles are excellent flyers and highly attracted to natural and synthetic light. They often gather around windows and lamps at night.
Dark, Quiet Spaces
Black carpet beetle larvae prefer dark, quiet spaces that are safe from predators. These spaces usually have abundant food and stable temperatures, allowing them to thrive.
Flowers
Adult black carpet beetles only feed on pollen and nectar, so they are highly attracted to flowering plants, such as daisies, sunflowers and goldenrods. If you have lots of flowering plants, these beetles can be found in your garden or house.
Dead Insects and Animal Remains
The larvae of black carpet beetles thrive on decaying animal matter, such as dead insects and rodents. These beetles populate spaces with abundant decaying organic matter, such as empty bird nests, attics and window sills.
How to Make Your Home Less Habitable for Black Carpet Beetles
An excellent way of controlling the spread of black carpet beetles is to make your home less attractive to them. Here are a few practical tips.
Limit Food Sources
- Keep wool, feathers, silk, furs and other animal-based products in vacuum-sealed plastic containers or cold storage.
- Store pantry items like grains and cereals in airtight plastic containers.
- Minimize clutter, especially in areas where beetles may find food or hiding spots, such as closets and attics.
Prevent Entry
- Keep the doors and windows of your house tightly closed to prevent the beetles from entering.
- Seal gaps and cracks. Use caulk or weatherstripping to seal gaps around windows, doors and pipes.
- Install screens. Ensure windows and vents are properly screened to prevent these beetles from entering.
Improve Indoor Hygiene
- Regular cleaning: Dust and vacuum dark, hard-to-access areas, such as baseboards, closets and storage spaces, where black carpet beetle larvae normally hide.
- Clean upholstery and carpets: Vacuum and clean carpets, rugs and upholstery regularly to remove eggs and larvae. Focus on cracks and crevices where larvae may hide.
- Inspect stored items: Regularly check items stored in closets and attics for signs of black carpet beetle activity, such as shed skin.
Improve Outdoor Hygiene
- Remove organic debris. Clear away bird nests, animal remains and fallen leaves, as these can attract black carpet beetles.
- Keep the outdoors clean. Regularly mow your lawn, trim bushes and remove flowering plants or overgrown shrubs near the house.
Do Black Carpet Beetles Come Out at Night?
Adult back carpet beetles are nocturnal and come out at night, although you can also see them during the day. They are attracted to light sources and are often found around windows or light fixtures after dark. Their larvae are most active during the day, although they prefer dark, quiet places.
Signs of a Black Carpet Beetle Infestation
Early detection of a black carpet beetle infestation is important in minimizing damage to your home. Here are some of the signs to look out for.
Shed Skins
As black carpet beetle larvae grow, they shed their skins, leaving behind small, translucent exoskeletons. An abundance of shed skins is a sure sign of infestation.
Damage to Fabrics
Irregular holes and patches in natural materials like wool, silk, fur, upholstery, carpets, clothing and other textiles could signify infestation.
Live Beetles or Larvae
Spotting adult beetles or larvae indicates an infestation. If you notice these pests, contact a pest control professional.
Fecal Droppings
Small, black specks of fecal matter near areas of damage are another telltale sign. These droppings are often found near the larvae’s feeding sites.
If you notice these signs, contact a pest control specialist to prevent further damage. Likewise, if you have concerns about ticks, like small black ticks, you can get help from a pest control professional.
Turn to the Pros for Your Black Carpet Beetle Problems
Dealing with black carpet beetles can be frustrating. These pests are good at hiding and can cause extensive damage to your home. Controlling black carpet beetles can seem overwhelming. Contact a pest control pro to help with your black carpet beetle problems.
ABC Can Treat for Black Carpet Beetles
Instead of battling these annoying beetles on your own, contact ABC Home & Commercial Services. Our professionals can come up with an effective pest treatment plan, so you can feel comfortable in your home again.
