Varied Carpet Beetle Larvae Nest

The larvae known as woolly bears of these small oval beetles have outstripped the clothes moths as the major british textile pest.

Varied carpet beetle larvae nest.

Varied carpet beetle larvaeare scavengers. The varied carpet beetle s life cycle is 249 to 354 days. They are a common species often considered a pest of domestic houses and particularly natural history museums where the larvae may damage natural fibers and can damage carpets furniture clothing and insect collections. They are quite common in nests of birds and spiders on dead animals and in insect collections.

Varied carpet beetles typically lay 40 eggs which take 10 to 20 days to hatch. They feed on a variety of animal products such as woolens carpets hides feathers horns bone and insect pupae. They remain as pupae for 10 to 13 days before emerging as adults. Carpet mites although you may see the terms carpet mites and carpet beetles used interchangeably these two pests are actually quite different.

The variegated carpet beetle is 2 to 4mm long like a small mottled brown grey and cream ladybird. Depending on food sources and climate larvae may take over a year to develop into adults. The larvae of varied carpet beetles are distinguished from other carpet beetle larvae by their broader shape in the rear and narrower shape towards front of the larvae. The larvae live for 220 to 630 days before pupating.

If you re not sure which you have you can have an exterminator come look for bedbugs. The varied carpet beetle anthrenus verbasci is a 3 mm long beetle belonging to the family dermestidae. The varied carpet beetle can be a serious pest in buildings and homes. As well as on plant products such as rye meal corn red pepper and other similar materials.

The related fur beetle is black with one spot on each wing case and there is a rarer black carpet beetle. Unfortunately it is not just carpets these beetle larvae eat they will also lay their eggs on any suitable material which could be clothing particularly leather goods furniture and all sort furnishings. Because carpet beetle larvae are bigger than bed bugs you may be more likely to see the beetles themselves. In this post we ll talk about carpet mites what causes carpet beetles where carpet beetles come from and how to avoid a carpet beetle infestation.

Female adult varied carpet beetles live 2 to 6 weeks while the adult males live 2 to 4 weeks.