Pest Identification

          Carpet Beetle
Carpet beetles belong to the beetle family Dermestidae. The adults are harmless and feed on plant pollen exclusively. It is the larva (growing stage), that causes damage by feeding on items primarily of animal origin. Carpet beetles will also attack other materials, such as cotton and synthetic fibers if these fabrics are soiled with human perspiration, body oils, beer, milk or fruit juice. Some carpet beetles may become "pantry pests" by invading cereal grain products.

Black carpet beetle
• The black carpet beetle, Attagenus unicolor (see Figure 1), is the most destructive and widespread carpet beetle in the United States. Adults are black with brown legs, somewhat shiny, oval and about 1/8- to 3/16-inch long.
• The larva is brown and carrot-shaped with a long brushy tail of brown hairs, and up to 1/2-inch long at maturity.
• Black carpet beetle larvae will eat almost anything of animal origin, such as wool, hair, feathers, leather, furs, stuffed trophy animals, dead insects or silk. They may also feed on cereal grain products and nut meats. Development from egg to adult beetle takes from nine months to two years.

Varied carpet beetle
• The varied carpet beetle, Anthenus verbasci (see Figure 2), is the most commonly encountered carpet beetle in Missouri. The adult beetle is a rounded oval, convex and about 1/8-inch long. The wing cover surface is patterned with brown, yellow and white scales. The ventral surface of the body is covered with fine, long grayish scales. Larvae are approximately 3/16-inch long at maturity.
• They appear to be composed of a series of alternating light and dark brown transverse stripes. They are very fuzzy and have three pairs of dark brown bristly bundles located somewhat laterally on the segments near the rear end.
• Varied carpet beetle larvae feed on anything of animal origin, as described for the black carpet beetle. They are also often associated with abandoned bird nests. Development time takes from nine months to one year.

Other species
• Other species found less often in Missouri homes include the common carpet beetle, Anthrenus flavipes. Both species are very similar in appearance and feeding habits to the varied carpet beetle.

• Habitat – Outdoors, carpet beetles are found in bird nests and animal dens where they can find the animal hair and feathers on which they feed. Indoors, these pests will be associated with woolen, silk, and other natural fiber fabrics. Carpet beetles may also be found living under carpets and rugs and in voids where hairs or dead insects have accumulated. Carpet Beetles require a comprehensive pest service in order to locate the areas in which they may live.

• Tips for Control – X-TERMINATORS can rid your home of these pests, but there are a few steps you can take to protect your clothing until your fabric pest problem can be controlled.
  • Do not store boxes of clothes in the attic, garage or basement, if possible.
  • If clothing must be stored in boxes, thoroughly clean the boxes before storage and seal all corners and openings with tape.
  • Prior to storage, clean woolen and natural fiber clothing according to the manufacturer's instructions.
  • In closets, store natural fiber clothing items by covering them with individual plastic covers.
  • Consider storing clothing in large zippered plastic units.
  • Use mothballs to help deter fabric pests, but be aware that they may leave an odor that could require dry cleaning.

• Clothes moths belong to the moth family Tineidae. The larval (caterpillar) stage damages items of animal origin, such as wool, fur, silk and feathers. Larvae will be found on fabrics among thin sheets of webbing that they spin to shield themselves. They often leave strands of silk on fabrics they infest.The larvae are white
• The adult moths do not feed. They are about 3/8-inch long, cream colored with a tuft of red hair on the top of the head. They are rarely seen because they tend to hide in the dark during daylight. The Indian meal moth, a common "pantry pest," flies about during daylight and is often mistaken for one of these moths. Clothes moths tend to stay confined near clothing, which makes them easier to control.

Casemaking clothes moth
• The casemaking clothes moth, Tinea pellionella, is a buff gray color and approximately 1/4-inch long with its wings folded along the body. Each front wing has three somewhat indistinct darker spots of scales.
• The larva is creamy white with a brown head. It produces a silken tube-like case in which it lives and carries around for protection. The head and legs are exposed only during feeding and movement. This case is camouflaged with bits of the material on which the larva has been feeding. The larva is approximately 1/2-inch long at maturity.
• Development from egg to adult is highly variable, depending upon available food and environmental conditions. It may be as little as a month.

Webbing clothes moth
• The webbing clothes moth, Tineola bisselliella, is a uniform buff color, approximately 1/4-inch long. It has a small tuft of red hair on the top of its head.
• The larva is whitish colored with a brown head. It produces a silk-lined "tunnel" as it eats through or on the surface of a fabric. The moth is approximately 1/2-inch long at maturity. Its developmental time is very similar to that of the casemaking clothes moth.