Description
Carpet beetles are found throughout Britain. They are small beetles of the genus Anthrenus and Attagenus, and many species, such as the Varied Carpet Beetle (Anthrenus verbasci), Guernsey Carpet Beetle (Anthrenus sarnicus) and the Small Carpet Beetle (Anthrenus fuscus) are found in many types of buildings.
The Fur Beetle (Attagenus pellio) also known as the Two-Spot Carpet Beetle, though looking very different from other Carpet Beetles, has a similar life cycle and feeding habits. The Brown Carpet Beetle (Attagenus smirnovi), is a relatively new beetle to the UK and a pest, which lives in homes and museums attacking wool-textiles, carpets, skin and fur.
Carpet and Fur Beetles are common inhabitants of birds’ nests and where birds are nesting in unused chimneys, attic spaces, roof voids, climbing plants against building walls etc., infestation can spread into the building. Animal-based material (wool, fur, feather, dead insects, leather etc) is readily attacked and damaged, particularly if it is soiled.
Control of carpet beetles usually involves three phases:
- removal of birds’ nests from lofts, chimneys, eaves etc.
- rigorous cleaning of vulnerable areas such as vacuuming of edges of fitted carpets and under furniture.
- treatments can include ‘deep freezing’ of affected materials and the use of residual insecticides around skirtings, inside wardrobes, drawer linings etc. and applying Constrain® to affected areas to provide residual protection
Blunder traps such as the Museum Trap will catch adult beetles and ‘woolly bears’, and can give an indication of the severity of an infestation, and the species involved. Sticky traps baited with a food attractant or the Dermestid Larva Monitor can attract larvae.
For more information, please read our AA Carpet Beetle Lures product information leaflet and our Insect Pest Fact Sheet for Carpet Beetles.
