Carpet Beetles

What are Carpet Beetles?

Slightly smaller but shaped like ladybugs, carpet beetles can quickly populate inside a structure. Carpet beetle larva are ¼-inch in length, light brown in color with tufts of hair on their bodies. In our experience, the varied carpet beetle is the most commonly found in western Oregon.

Clues that you might have them:

Adult beetles, or more commonly carpet beetle larvae, in closets infesting wool, leather, and fur clothing. They also infest food such as cereals (including cereal-based dry pet foods), corn and rye meal, granola and ‘trail mix’-type foods, red pepper and other spices.

If you leave them alone…

They can ruin expensive wool (including cashmere), leather clothing and grain-based foods. In institutions such as museums or other facilities that house animal trophies or insect collections, or homes with taxidermy collections, carpet beetles can easily damage or destroy exhibits of such collections. The presence of carpet beetles can also cause dermatitis in humans. Carpet beetle infestations can also be indicative of mice or rat issues in structures, as carpet beetle larvae will feed off of the skin and fur of dead carcasses in walls, ceilings and subareas.

What you need to do about them:

Try to identify the interior area(s) where carpet beetle adults or larva are most numerous, especially in closets and cabinets where woolens or other animal fiber products or clothing may be stored. If problems exist in the kitchen, check food storage areas.