Varied Carpet Beetle Larvae Nest

The varied carpet beetle can be a serious pest in buildings and homes.

Varied carpet beetle larvae nest.

Depending on food sources and climate larvae may take over a year to develop into adults. The larvae of varied carpet beetles are distinguished from other carpet beetle larvae by their broader shape in the rear and narrower shape towards front of the larvae. Carpet mites although you may see the terms carpet mites and carpet beetles used interchangeably these two pests are actually quite different. The varied carpet beetle anthrenus verbasci is a 3 mm long beetle belonging to the family dermestidae.

The larvae live for 220 to 630 days before pupating. The larvae known as woolly bears of these small oval beetles have outstripped the clothes moths as the major british textile pest. Because carpet beetle larvae are bigger than bed bugs you may be more likely to see the beetles themselves. Varied carpet beetles typically lay 40 eggs which take 10 to 20 days to hatch.

If you re not sure which you have you can have an exterminator come look for bedbugs. The larvae here resembles a wooly caterpillar thus it is also called the wooly bear. They are quite common in nests of birds and spiders on dead animals and in insect collections. Varied carpet beetle larvaeare scavengers.

The wolly bears varied carpet beetle larvae eat proteins which are in the material of the carpet and quite literally eat holes into carpet. They feed on a variety of animal products such as woolens carpets hides feathers horns bone and insect pupae. They are a common species often considered a pest of domestic houses and particularly natural history museums where the larvae may damage natural fibers and can damage carpets furniture clothing and insect collections. As well as on plant products such as rye meal corn red pepper and other similar materials.

Unfortunately it is not just carpets these beetle larvae eat they will also lay their eggs on any suitable material which could be clothing particularly leather goods furniture and all sort furnishings. Carpet beetle larvae are able to mature under a variety of humidity levels and temperatures although they tend to avoid bright areas. Female adult varied carpet beetles live 2 to 6 weeks while the adult males live 2 to 4 weeks. The varied carpet beetle s life cycle is 249 to 354 days.

The related fur beetle is black with one spot on each wing case and there is a rarer black carpet beetle.