Beetles

Varied Carpet Beetle (Anthrenus verbasci)

The most common carpet beetle species in the UK. Adults are small round beetles, 2-3mm long. Larvae, often referred to as woolly bears, grow to 5mm. In summer, adults are found on plants outside. After mating, the females fly through open windows into buildings to lay eggs. They will also infest bird nests.

The larvae are voracious feeders making small, neat holes in the materials under attack. They will attack fur, feathers, taxidermy and wool textiles. Most larval activity takes place in dark, undisturbed locations. They can move long distances in search of food.

Varied Carpet Beetle

Varied Carpet Beetle Larvae

2 Spot Carpet Beetle or Fur Beetle, (Attagenus pellio)

The most common Attagenus species these are difficult to control as the larvae can forage widely. Adults are black, oval in shape, 4-6mm in length and have a characteristic white spot on each wing case. Larvae are up to 10mm in length and carrot shaped.

Adults are active flyers and are often found on windowsills. Adult females lay batches of eggs secreted in cracks and crevices in dark, undisturbed areas directly on the food material. Larvae will attack protein-rich materials including, feathers, fur, mammal and bird skins. Often the first sign of an infestation will be the empty, striped cast skins left behind on infested material due to pupation.

2 spot carpet beetle

2 spot carpet beetle Larvae

Guernsey Carpet Beetle (Anthrenus sarnicus)

These small (2-4mm) round beetles are covered with grey and gold scales. Larvae are short and fat with bands of orange brown hairs. They are extremely difficult to distinguish from the closely related Varied Carpet Beetle. Adult beetles fly when it is warm and may frequently be found on windowsills. The larvae usually take 1 year to complete their growth. The larvae wander but are often in dark and hidden places where dirt accumulates. They will feed on dead insects, especially flies, and are also found in natural situations such as birds’ nests and animal burrows.

Guernsey carpet beetle

Guernsey carpet beetle Larvae

Dark or Small Carpet Beetle (Anthrenus fuscus)

Adults are similar to the above, smaller at 1.7 – 2.8 mm and darker. Adult is smaller and much darker than the Varied Carpet Beetle and Guernsey Carpet beetle. During the summer, the adult beetles feed on pollen and nectar of plants such as Umbellifers and Lily of the Valley.

After mating, the females can fly through open windows into buildings to lay eggs. Common egg laying sites are on material of animal origins such as wool carpets and clothing, animal furs etc.

Dark Carpet Beetle

Dark Carpet Beetle Larvae

Vodka Beetle (Attagenus smirnovi)

These oval brown beetles (10mm) have a black thorax and head. Males are smaller than females. The larva of this species is almost identical to Two-spot Carpet Beetles. They were introduced into the UK in 1970’s and have now become established in the London area.

This species does not live outdoors in the UK. Adults fly when it is warm and are often attracted to lights. Females lay batches of eggs secreted in cracks and crevices. When the larvae first hatch, they are long and narrow and extremely small, and when larger, they will wander and may attack more than one object.

Vodka Beetle

Vodka Beetle Larvae

Larder Beetle (Dermestes lardarius)

Both the adults (10mm) and larvae of larder beetles feed off a variety of animal-based foods, such as raw skins, raw hides, and carcasses. The larvae, in particular, are voracious eaters. Larder beetles rest in winter and become active in the spring. The female larder beetle has the potential to lay hundreds of eggs, which hatch in two weeks or less.

The larvae prefer darkness and after feeding will burrow into materials such as bone, wood, cork, plaster, styrofoam, tin, or into cracks and crevices to create their pupal chambers.

Larder Beetle

Larder Beetle Larvae