Subject: Insect ID
Location: Agoura Hills CA
March 5, 2013 5:32 pm
Greetings from Southern California. We see examples of this crawling on our walls from time to time. Here’s a photo I took today myself March 5, 2013. The finger is to indicate the scale. My kids are concerned, though I’m sure it’s harmless. Many thanks.
Signature: Alan
Dear Alan,
It seems that in recent weeks, a significant percentage of our insect identification requests have been for Carpet Beetles, including the Varied Carpet Beetle, Anthrenus verbasci, the species in your image. Your photo is of a much higher quality than most of the requests we have received recently, so we are using your request as a feature on our site to inform our readers about Carpet Beetles. Carpet Beetles are common household pests that feed on a variety of organic items in the home, including “wide variety of materials of animal origin (wool, fur, skins…)(1); stored food materials and products (biscuits, cakes, seeds, wheat, maize, oats, rice, cayenne pepper, cacao, and dried cheese)” according to BugGuide. For clarification, only the larvae eat those items. Adults, which are frequently found on windowsills, feed on pollen.
How can I get rid of these Bugs?
You need to find the source of the infestation. The adult beetles feed on pollen and they do not survive on items in the home. Larvae feed on a variety of stored foods in the pantry as well as on things like fur, feathers, leather and wool. Vacuuming pet hair might also help with the control of carpet beetles.
I am in west texas. i also am having issues with these. Whats the best way to get rid of them?
You need to find the source of the infestation. The adult beetles feed on pollen and they do not survive on items in the home. Larvae feed on a variety of stored foods in the pantry as well as on things like fur, feathers, leather and wool. Vacuuming pet hair might also help with the control of carpet beetles.
What do the larvae stages look like?
http://www.whatsthatbug.com/2013/01/22/carpet-beetle-larvae-4/
I did not realize these are house pests. The only ones I have seen have been in woodland nearby. I was told they were Varigated Carpet Beetles but they look the same so I think that is problem just a name variation.
Adult Carpet Beetles feed on pollen and only the larvae feed on household items.
Please explain feeding on pet hair. Will they only eat hair of pet or will they feed on their skin, body,or harm them? need to know. Thank you
Will they eat countertop, tile,or any synthetic material?
We meant shed pet hair. They will not eat the hair or skin or otherwise harm a pet.
These showed up covering my parsley seed heads this morning in a container pot – first time i am seeing them.
Should I get rid them by shaking into soapy water? I prefer to leave bugs alone if they are beneficial at all – but don’t want these moving inside my home.
We ignore Carpet Beetles outdoors.
Hello. So how exactly do i find the source of infestation? Please b specific. I 1st started seeing these guys like a week ago, now it’s every day. I’m very grossed out. Especially bcz of their little antenna thingums. Ugh…
Yes. Please be more specific on finding the source. I have no idea where to look. Like, do I need to throw out my rug/carpet?
Thank you.
My Ex is into pest control. High ranking.
I have gone on sites with her, and this is where you find most of the issues. I have seen ants issues, mice, spiders, bedbugs (NASTY), cockroaches (NASTY) etc. Many places I went to, commercial and residental.
These Carpet Beetles are not like that of an ant, they don’t leave a trail to make things easy. The Carpet Beetle doesn’t leave a fairmone to say, ‘ go this way to the food!’ and the rest follow. I see they have wings like a Ladybug.
Best practice to elimate pets are to find:
Grease source (Roaches), fridge, stove, microwave.
Dust source/skin (Bedbugs) Beds, Rails, Baseboard, matrices
Garbage source (Rats/Mice) Self explanatory.
Sugar source (Ants) Pantry,Under the bed, Garage, etc.
Water source (Waterbugs-Lg Roaches) Under the house, Kitchen/bathroom sinks, etc.
Cardboard free/egg laying source(Roach etc) Garages, Kitchen Restaurants: (cling free wrap boxes)(Tinfoil boxes). Pizza boxes.
So as mentioned above:
* “Larvae feed on a variety of stored foods in the pantry as well as on things like fur, feathers, leather and wool, and pet hair”
* “The adult beetles feed on pollen, like to be on window sills and they do not survive on items in the home.”
Larvae found near the wall and carpet in my bedroom under my window. It has been about a year since I have seen one, and they were a shed of skin like a lizard or snake…not the bug itself.
Now (today) I see quite a few of the adults in the window track of the same window in the bedroom. On my wall under the window and on the window screen. Past 2 days I have caught 14. I think they are coming from the window track drain slot where condensation runs out. There is a lot of pollen starting here in So Cal. My pantry is FAR from my bedroom. I don’t see any in any other area except my room around my window ledge mostly inside the window track. I locked off the drainage slot to check if they are more that way I know its an internal issue I have to deal with.
Only thing I can think of is the Larvae now hatching the adults are showing.. the only thing I have of that ‘ list of food ‘ is dust that comes in from the window being open.
I still think they are coming IN and not caused from being IN my home. I never see them anywhere except my window track. Past 2 days, 14 caught, 3 on the wall under the window. The rest are in the window track that the closed window sits on top of.
So, for starters, I am blocking entry from outside (Window condensation slot ) and checking how many I find. I don’t see Larvae.
Hope I helped.
They’re in my clothes, bed and they bit also furniture