If you’re like most homeowners, you’ve probably never given much thought to carpet beetles. After all, they sound harmless, right? How bad can a beetle really be? As it turns out, carpet beetles are sneaky little pests that can do some serious damage — and they’re a lot more common than you might think. At Pest Force, we specialize in residential pest control with quarterly service plans, so we see firsthand how carpet beetles quietly infiltrate homes. Here’s everything you need to know about the signs of carpet beetles, whether they bite, and if they’re actually dangerous.
What Are Carpet Beetles?
Carpet beetles are small, oval-shaped insects that feed on a wide variety of household items. The adult beetles are often black or mottled with white, yellow, or brown. While the adults are mostly pollen feeders and often come from outside, it’s their larvae that do the damage. The larvae are fuzzy, bristled, and creepy looking. They feed on natural fibers like wool, silk, leather, fur, and even pet hair or dead insects. That means your rugs, clothing, upholstered furniture, and even stored food items could be targets.
Signs of Carpet Beetles in Your Home
One of the trickiest things about carpet beetles is that they can go unnoticed until the damage is already done. Here are some signs to watch for:
- Shed skins or fuzzy larvae in corners, under furniture, or along the baseboards
- Damage to fabrics, like thin, irregular holes in clothing or carpets
- Adult beetles near windows, as they’re attracted to light and may try to escape
- Tiny fecal pellets (yes, gross, we know) near damaged materials
Do Carpet Beetles Bite?
One of the most common questions we get is, “Will carpet beetles bite me?” The short answer is… not exactly. Carpet beetles don’t bite like bed bugs or mosquitoes. However, the tiny hairs on their larvae can cause an allergic skin reaction in some people. This may look like a rash or small red bumps, which often leads people to mistakenly blame fleas or bed bugs. So, while carpet beetles technically don’t “bite,” their presence can cause skin irritation, which is definitely something you want to take seriously.
Are Carpet Beetles Dangerous?
While they’re not poisonous or disease-spreading like some other pests, carpet beetles can still be a serious problem. The damage they do to clothing, furniture, and other personal belongings can be costly and frustrating. Plus, the allergens caused by larvae can affect people with asthma or sensitive skin. And because carpet beetles are often mistaken for other pests, they can go untreated for months while continuing to breed and spread throughout your home.
How to Keep Carpet Beetles Out
Here are some ways you can reduce your risk of a carpet beetle infestation:
- Vacuum regularly, especially around baseboards, under furniture, and in closets
- Store off-season clothes in airtight plastic containers or bags
- Seal cracks and gaps around windows, doors, and vents to keep beetles from sneaking in
- Clean out air ducts and attics, which are often hiding spots for larvae
- Don’t let pet hair and lint accumulate, as they are food sources for larvae
Professional Help for a Sneaky Pest
Carpet beetles are more than just a nuisance; they’re destructive, hard to detect, and often mistaken for something else. If you’ve seen signs of carpet beetles or are dealing with unexplained damage to your belongings, don’t wait until the problem gets worse. At Pest Force, we offer quarterly residential pest control services designed to stop pests like carpet beetles in their tracks before they can wreak havoc in your home. Our trained technicians know what to look for and how to treat infestations efficiently and safely. Don’t let carpet beetles silently destroy your home. Contact Pest Force today and schedule your first quarterly service visit.
