black carpet beetle larvae::The larvae eat almost any type of animal product such as leather, wool, silk, feathers, hair, dried meat, dead insects, and even dried plant material black carpet beetle larvae

black carpet beetle larvae

black carpet beetle larvae

black carpet beetle larvae::The larvae eat almost any type of animal product such as leather, wool, silk, feathers, hair, dried meat, dead insects, and even dried plant material.
The black carpet beetle is a pest in kitchen cupboards, as well as in woolen carpets or clothes storage areas.
The adult is 2.
The first segment of the tarsi of the hind legs is much shorter than the second segment.
The last antennal segment of the male is twice as long as that of the female.
The larvae of the black carpet beetle, which may reach 12.
They are elongate, carrotshaped, golden to chocolate brown, and have a tuft of very long, curled, goldenbrown hair at the tail end of their body.
Drawing of adult black carpet beetle the small, pearlywhite egg can be deposited in the lint around baseboards, in the ductwork of hotair furnace systems, on wool clothing in storage, and in similar protected locations.
The egg hatches in 6 to 11 days in warm weather, but may require an additional 5 to 16 days under cooler conditions.
At room temperature, the larval life span ranges from 258 to 639 days.
This variation is due largely to fluctuations in temperature, food quality, and relative humidity.
The larvae may molt 5 to 11 times, and up to 20 times when conditions are unfavorable.
The larval skins often are mistaken for the larvae themselves.
The larvae pupate in the last larval skin, and the pupal period may extend from 6 to 24 days.
The beetles may remain in the partially shed pupal skin from 2 to 20 days before emerging.
Black carpet beetles usually overwinter in the larval stage.
Adults may live from 2 weeks to several months, but never damage household goods in this stage.
Unlike the larvae, they are attracted to light.
They are active and often can be found around windows and outdoors on flowers, eating the pollen.
The females commence egg laying on the larval food materials or in dark secluded places less than one week after emergence.
A female can lay from 42 to 114 eggs, and averages around 50; she generally dies a few days after oviposition.
How do black carpet beetles get into the house?
The adults are attracted to flowers, and in the spring of the year they may fly into the house.
The larvae may wander from the nest into the attic and other parts of the house.
At times, birds and other animals die in chimneys and elsewhere in the house and their carcasses become a source of food for the larvae.
Very often, the black carpet beetles are brought into the house with old woolens and carpeting.
Sometimes the black carpet beetles are introduced into a dwelling in stored products such as dried dog food.
It is not uncommon to find one or two black carpet beetles in a house.
An occasional black carpet beetle larva probably is not an indication of a serious problem; however, if you regularly encounter large numbers of larvae or adults, find the source of the infestation and institute the following control measures.
Successful control depends on locating the source of the infestation.
If you find the infested material, either clean it or destroy the item.
Where the beetles are widespread and no point source of infestation is found, you may apply one of the various insecticides and chemical formulations that are available for carpet beetle control.
Diatomaceous earth and silica aerogel that cause insects to lose moisture are known as desiccants.
Apply them as a dust to cracks and crevices or inject them into wall voids.
They are only effective if they remain dry, and work best where water sources are eliminated or reduced.
You can apply synthetic pyrethroids such as deltamethrin, cyfluthrin, lambdacyhalothrin, cypermethrin, sumithrin, or tralomethrin to cracks as a waterbased spray.
When injected into dark crevices, the materials have a longer period of efficacy because they are not in direct sunlight.
Crevices where lint, hair, and food particles have accumulated are places likely to be infested by carpet beetles.
Please read and follow the directions and safety precautions on the labels.
Handle them carefully and store them in their original labeled containers out of the reach of children, pets, and livestock.
Dispose of the empty containers right away, in a safe manner and place.
Do not contaminate forage, streams, and ponds.
Authored by: steve jacobs, sr.
Extension associate updated april 2002 revised april 2007
black carpet beetle larvae::If you are finding little, fuzzy worms in
your pantry or under your rugs or if you are noticing tiny, dark
beetles in your window sills, you may have a carpet beetle infestation
black carpet beetle larvae