Why Carpet Beetles Are in Your Home—and How to Get Rid of Them Effectively
Have you ever seen a small, speckled brown and white bug on your rug and wondered what it was? Chances are, it was a carpet beetle. If you spot one or two in your space, don’t panic—the creepy critters aren’t detrimental to your health. But, given that these bugs can damage your things, you’ll want to promptly take steps to remove them from your home.
Carpet beetles are small, oval-shaped bugs that range in color from black to mottled patterns of white, brown, yellow, and orange, according to the University of Kentucky. The bugs usually range in size from 1/16 to 1/8 inch.
The larvae of these beetles have brown bands and long “hairs” over their bodies with “distinct tufts of hairs” at the end, says Ben Hottel, Ph.D., technical services manager at Orkin. Contrary to their name, they’re often found in places other than carpet. “The adults are most often seen on walls moving very slowly,” he says.
While getting rid of one or two might be easy, preventing an onslaught requires a bit more planning. Ahead, insect experts share everything you need to know about carpet beetles, and some of the best home remedies to ensure they leave you and your home alone.
What are carpet beetles, exactly?
Carpet beetles belong to a family of beetles known as dermestids, says Michael Thome, associate certified entomologist for Ehrlich Pest Control. They can cause serious damage to animal-based fabrics like leather, wool, and furs, along with stored food, he says. But, Thome adds, they don’t eat synthetic fibers.
Pretty much any animal fabric is a potential food source for carpet beetles, which makes them difficult to control. “They are called carpet beetles but don’t necessarily just feed on carpets,” says Changlu Wang, Ph.D., an extension specialist in entomology at Rutgers University.
There are a few different types in the U.S., but Wang says the black carpet beetle is the most common. It’s small, black, oval, and 1/8 to 3/16 inches.
Do carpet beetles bite?
Carpet beetles won’t bite you or your pets. “They tend not to infest beds or [congregate] around people in the same way bed bugs do,” Thome says. They also don’t feed on blood. Keep in mind, though, that bristly hairs on the carpet beetle larvae (which looks like a tiny, fuzzy caterpillar) can irritate your skin if you touch them, Wang says.
Overall, the biggest potential issue is the larvae eating your stuff, creating holes in rugs and clothes.
How can carpet beetles get in your house?
They can come in through doors and windows, or by latching onto infested items that are brought into the house. “Adult carpet beetles also feed on pollen and nectar from flowers around houses,” Wang says. “When you have a lot of flowers around the home, they’re more likely to invade.”
And if you love a fresh bouquet of cut flowers, Thome says carpet beetles can even come inside on your favorite cut blooms.
Once they’re inside, adult carpet beetles can lay eggs on or in things like furniture, clothes, air vents, or rugs, Wang says—and that can lead to an infestation.
How to get rid of carpet beetles
There are a few things you can do at home to get rid of the pests:
✔️ Try to find infested items. The item could be something like an old sweater, hat, or rug. Pinpointing where the infestation is coming from is one of the first steps you can take to ridding your home of the bugs.
✔️ Clean or toss infested items. If you find infested things, either wash them with hot water or toss them, Wang says. If you decide to wash, dry the item on high heat for at least 45 minutes to kill the beetles.
✔️ Vacuum them up. Sucking up the critters will help get rid of them quickly and easily. Wang says you may want to empty the bag afterward (preferably outside) to make sure they don’t crawl back out.
How to prevent carpet beetles in your home
Thome and Wang suggest a variety of tactics to stop the critters from entering your home in the first place:
✔️ Vacuum regularly, including floors and vents. Doing a good job vacuuming is the most effective way to keep carpet beetles from infesting your home, Thome says. Meanwhile, Wang says Vacuuming your floors, carpets, and inside heating vents can help remove larvae, along with the hair and lint they like to feed on.
✔️ Store your stuff in sealed containers. Whether it’s seasonal clothes or dry pantry goods like cereal and pet food, Wang says keeping your goods sealed will help deter carpet beetles.
✔️ Reconsider hedges. Wang says flowering shrubs close to your home make it very likely that carpet beetles will come inside.
If you spot a few carpet beetles here and there, Wang says you should be fine to just get rid of them on your own. But if you try the steps above and you still find them crawling around, it’s time to call in an exterminator for professional help.
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