What are Carpet Beetles?
They are textile pests and cause most of their damage to natural fibres containing the structural protein ‘keratin’ such as wool, silk, feathers, animal hair and furs. Most commonly found in warehouses, homes, museums, and other locations where suitable food exists. The damage is caused by the larvae who will feed off these fibres until they are ready to transition into an adult beetle. Adult Carpet Beetles will feed outdoors mainly on shrubs and plants.
Varied Carpet Beetle
Adult Size: 3mm Long
Larvae Size: 4-5 mm
Patterns can vary but generally are a mixture of black/brown, white and yellow.
The larvae are brown and hairy, and are commonly known as “woolly bears”, they avoid sunlight and curl into a ball when approached.
Their life cycle is normally only one generation a year however this can increase to two in warm temperatures
Fur Beetle
Adult size: 4-6mm long
Larvae Size: 6mm long
Adults are an elongated oval shape, black all over with one white dot on each wing.
Larvae stage they have long orange tufts of hair on the last segment and will have a banded appearance
Their life cycle is normally one generation per year however it can extend to one generation every three years depending on their environment.
Fur Beetles can be commonly found in bird nests, with the adults feeding on Spiraea plants.
Leather Beetle
Otherwise known as skin or hide beetle are more commonly called “bow bugs” as they can often be found infesting violin cases, feeding on the bow hair. Leather Beetles are the largest of the three species.
Adult Size: 6-10mm long
Adults are mostly black with a white underside.
The larva is shaped like a comet, brown and hairy with and orange strip running down its back.
The life cycle of the leather beetle is much shorter than the other species, lasting only 2-3 months at around 18-25C. They are scavengers, feeding on various animal materials such as skin, feathers and hair and will pupate in solid material such as wood.