Carpet Beetles And Yarn

Black carpet beetle larva left and adult right.

Carpet beetles and yarn.

These types of materials carpet beetles routinely feast on include wool felt leather silk fur and feathers. Carpet beetles as their name implies sometimes infest carpets. Where do carpet beetles live. Such materials contain keratin a fibrous animal protein which the larvae are able to digest.

They love lint hair and small bits of food so keeping as many areas clean of these things is essential to curbing their food source. Carpet beetles don t usually eat cotton linen or other plant based or synthetic fabrics but they may eat fabric blends or fabrics stained with animal products. Similar to clothes moths the pests also feed on many other items composed of wool fur felt silk feathers skins and leather. Varied carpet beetle final instar larval cast skin left and adults center and right.

Carpet beetle larvae will eat all manner of animal material including wool fur silk felt feathers and leather. Carpet beetles are found throughout australia and can handle lower humidity than clothes moths so are also found inland from the coast. The larvae do all the damage the adults only eat pollen. All of my yarn and fabric is currently being transitioned over from open air storage to plastic.

These beetles may also eat synthetic fabrics if they are soiled with food or oils. Carpet beetle larvae infesting a child s art project made out of yarn noodles and beans. Carpet beetles are not a hygiene problem but they can be combatted by stepping up your cleaning.