Carpet Beetle Wool

The larvae of the carpet beetle will eat wool carpet and wool rugs can eat lots of it and will permanently damage the carpet.

Carpet beetle wool.

They like to devour natural fibers such as cotton wool fur and leather. Concealed areas e g cuffs collars fabric folds are often preferred. Most carpet beetle damage results from larvae eating holes into natural fiber items like wool silk feathers dead insects and leather. Synthetic carpet is not attacked or damaged by carpet beetle grubs.

Preventing carpet beetle damage to clothing begins with dry cleaning or laundering before storing it for the summer. The beetles live outside but will come inside to lay their eggs on juicy looking carpet any time of the year. They may eat through your clothes rugs and furniture. Carpet beetle larva feeding on a wool sports jacket.

Here s what you need to know. These immature pests also have bristly hairs that can irritate skin. Varied carpet beetles are the smallest type of carpet beetle and have a slightly rounded shell. Usually they are brown or black in color with specks of white on their backs.

Plant based materials cereal pet food bird seed etc stored in kitchens and basements or cached by rodents are other possible sources of carpet beetles. Carpet beetle larvae are responsible for the nipped treads and tiny holes we find in wool sweaters coats and pants.