Carpet Beetles

Adult carpet beetles are a common sight in Snohomish. They are black with an irregular pattern of brown, white and dark yellow scales on their wings. It is typically about 1/8 to 3/16 inch in length. They often resemble lady bugs, but with a black shell and yellow spots for coloration. Carpet beetle larvae are very small, appearing brownish in color and appear to be "hairy" or "bristly."

Carpet beetles feed on natural fibers and particles to survive. They are known to chew on wool (including carpets, rugs, and other woolen goods), stuffed animals, silk products, leather book bindings, animal skins, and even human hair. They will also eat dried plant products and silk plants.

Carpet beetles are found inside homes, warehouses, museums and other buildings. Inside homes, these carpet beetles are often found on the floor or around baseboards, in closets, beneath upholstered furniture and on the undersides of carpeting. Once inside, they may cause serious damage to clothing, furs, carpets and other stored fabric items. Inside homes, carpet beetles typically deposit their eggs on or near wool carpet and rugs, after which they will hatch and start feasting on this delicious food source.

Carpet beetles usually appear in spring and early summer. Adult carpet beetles enter homes and buildings through small cracks and openings around windows, doors, and from underneath siding. They will also use electrical lines and above-ground pipes that lead into the home, and they can usually be detected by the presence of their shed skin, fecal pellets, and larvae.