Carpet Beetles And Clothes Moths

Let s first look at the adult and larval stages of the webbing and casemaking clothes moths and then the varied and black carpet beetles the two most commonly encountered of the carpet beetles.

Carpet beetles and clothes moths.

Clothes moths and carpet beetles are among the very few insects fungi and microorganisms that are capable of digesting keratin a protein component of feathers hair fur horns antlers hooves nails and beaks. Clothes moths however prefer to feed on items contaminated with organic materials such as spilled food body fluids fungal spores. Their larvae are reddish brown and covered in fine hairs. Case making clothes moth larvae spin a silken tube or case for protection and they drag this along as they feed.

In order to kill carpet beetles and clothes moths infested items need to be held at minimum temperature of 0 degrees fahrenheit for at least one week. Commercial clothes moth and carpet beetle control. The eggs hatch in eight to 15 days and hatch more quickly in warmer weather. Freezing is an effective way to kill carpet beetles and clothes moths.

Carpet beetles and clothes moths can cause serious damage to fabrics furs and carpets among other items. The adults are harmless and feed on plant pollen exclusively. The female beetles lay soft white eggs in concealed places on clothing furniture cracks in flooring and carpet. It is the larva the growing stage that causes.

Carpet beetles are abundant in the seattle pacific northwest regions and do most damage to clothing that we d otherwise attribute to clothes moths. Unfortunately you are headed for a time consuming process of going through all of your woolens looking for live dead insects and insect damage. These beetles have black white red and orange scales. Carpet beetles and moths both cause holes in your clothes and especially like to feed on cotton clothing or other fabrics.

Clothes moths and carpet beetles are among the very few insects fungi and microorganisms that are capable of digesting keratin a protein component of feathers hair fur horns antlers hooves nails and beaks. Most pest control specialists provide dependable service for controlling clothes moths and carpet beetles. They originally gained their name by infesting wool carpets such that all the tufts would simply fall out leaving the carpets backing hence thread bare. They re especially attracted to food or certain chemical attractants from your perfume deodorant musk etc.

Freezers capable of reaching minus 20 degrees f are able to kill all life stages within 72 hours. This publication describes the carpet beetle and clothes moth species most commonly found in missouri homes carpet beetlescarpet beetles belong to the beetle family dermestidae. Clothes moths however prefer to feed on items contaminated with organic materials such as spilled food body fluids fungal spores.