Black Carpet Beetle Identification & Prevention

A common stored product pest, the black carpet beetle has a varied diet and feeds on almost any product made from animals. Adult black carpet beetles grow to be about 1/8 to 3/16 inches long. Their oval-shaped body is shiny black to dark brown in color and covered in short hairs. Their heads bend down at a slight angle, giving them somewhat of a hunchbacked appearance. These insects have six legs and short antennae.

The larvae of this beetle grow to about ¼ of an inch long. Their body appears segmented and has a carrot-like shape. The larvae have a distinctive tuft of brown hair extending off their backend. Stiff hairs cover their hard body.

Black carpet beetles are damaging pests. They have the potential to feed on and chew holes through a variety of personal items, including clothing, rugs, and upholstered furniture. They will also feed on and contaminate dry goods stored in your home.

Black carpet beetles have become a problem in your home because it is offering them suitable places to breed and feed. Adult black carpet beetles often live outside but are attracted to our home’s outdoor lighting fixtures. After entering through spaces around windows and doors, they move throughout our homes, searching for a dark place to lay their eggs.

Black carpet beetles can also be introduced to homes on furniture, rugs, clothing, or other fabric items that have been infested with eggs or larvae. They may also have hitchhiked their way inside in dry goods purchased at a store already infested with their eggs or larvae.

Black carpet beetles live in a variety of locations inside our homes:

• Behind our home’s walls feed on nesting materials from rodents, stinging insects, or dead insects. Kitchens and pantries- feeding on and contaminating dry goods.
• Storage areas like basements, attics, or closets. Females will lay their eggs on fabrics, rugs, leathers, blankets, clothing, or other suitable food sources that have been stored away.
• Your home’s carpets or upholstered furniture.
• Outside in garden areas feeding on plant pollen and nectar.

Acquiring help from a professional pest control expert is the best way to eliminate black carpet beetles and keep them from returning. At Albemarle Termite & Pest Control, our technicians are highly trained and dedicated to providing affordable, safe, and effective pest control services in Elizabeth City. We are a local, family-owned pest control company whose number one priority is putting our customers first and exceeding expectations. For home or business owners looking to eliminate pests once and for all, call Albemarle Termite & Pest Control today!

Pests are not just a nuisance; they pose potential health risks and are capable of damaging property. Avoid problems with black carpet beetles with the help of the following prevention tips.

• Inspect flowering potted plants for black carpet beetles before bringing them inside.
• Switch out white outdoor light bulbs for yellow or LED lights that are less attractive to black carpet beetles and other insects.
• Place weather-stripping around windows and doors.
• Replace loose or missing window and door screens.
• Vacuum carpets and upholstery.
• Dust under furniture and baseboards.