Carpet Beetles That Eat Clothes

You can find carpet beetles in your closet on your walls or even all over your floor.

Carpet beetles that eat clothes.

Their larvae are reddish brown and covered in fine hairs. Clothes moths and carpet beetles. 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. They do eat and destroy clothing and other soft fabrics.

There are two main types of insect which cause serious damage to textiles in the british isles. They are capable of feeding on a wide variety of items and do so usually undiscovered until after damage is done. The female beetles lay soft white eggs in concealed places on clothing furniture cracks in flooring and carpet. 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.

Although very different in appearance and habits both are pests which eat animal fibres such as wool carpets and cashmere or mohair clothing. Often most of the eating and damage is done by the larvae. They often eat along the edges or. The eggs hatch in eight to 15 days and hatch more quickly in warmer weather.

Adult clothes moths and carpet beetles may not eat at all. All moths and beetles progress through egg larva pupa and adult stages.