You may have seen a carpet beetle larvae without knowing what it was. And you may not have even thought twice about having the pest in your home. However, carpet beetle larvae are damaging pests that don't belong in your home.
Don’t leave your home at risk for these destructive pests. Read on to find out everything you should know about carpet beetle larvae in McKinney.
What Are Carpet Beetles?
As adults, carpet beetles are oval-shaped house pests that tend to be black, white, or yellow in color. Measuring up to four millimeters in size, these beetles don't have an appealing appearance. But the adults themselves aren't the problem. It's the larvae of the carpet beetle that you don't want in your property.
The larvae of these pests are light brown to black and have a covering of dense hairs. On their abdomen, carpet beetle larvae have three golden hairs. Typically, the larvae are larger than adult beetles. There's another significant difference between the two stages, and it's one that can affect your home or business. The larvae of beetles eat your carpets, leather, and wool materials. Unfortunately, this means that your property could experience significant damage should you experience a carpet beetle infestation.
In most cases, you will notice the damage before you see the beetles themselves. Carpet beetles are small and like to hide in fibers. If you're not looking for carpet beetle larvae, you may not see them. Instead, you might see damage to your carpets or clothing. These pests have a preference for fiber-based carpets.
Are Carpet Beetle Larvae Dangerous?
Carpet beetle larvae generally aren't dangerous to humans, but they could trigger an allergic reaction in some people. If you come into contact with the hairs, you could experience a rash that looks like welts or bites, a runny nose, or gastrointestinal issues.
Other than that, carpet beetles and their larvae aren't harmful to your health. They're only harmful to the natural materials in your home. While it might not seem like a big deal, the damage caused by carpet beetle larvae could cost you significant money if an infestation is allowed to persist.
Carpet Beetle Prevention
If you want to keep your home free from carpet beetles and their larvae, you can take some preventative steps to protect yourself. The insects are attracted to light and warmth, so they often head indoors. While they sometimes fly into houses, they also can get inside by hitching a ride on your pets or inside your clothes.
Here are some effective strategies you can use to prevent carpet beetles and their larvae from getting into your McKinney home:
- Wash and dry your clothing before storing it for a period of time.
- Keep stored clothes in airtight containers and check them for beetles.
- Use mothballs in closets and stored clothing.
- Clean carpets and upholstered furniture regularly.
- Clean baseboards and air vents regularly.
- Use screens on your windows and open doors.
- Remove spider webs and dead insects from your home.
What Should You Do About Carpet Beetles?
Once you have carpet beetles, you should act quickly. The first thing you should do is to call a professional pest control technician. However, you can also take some measures of your own. Wash and dry or throw out any infested clothing or objects. When washing items, be sure to use hot water. Extreme heat or cold kills carpet beetles and their eggs, so freezing objects may also work. The items need to be frozen for about two weeks before they are safe to remove.
However, it's very difficult to remove carpet beetles and their larvae from your home. If you want an effective way of removing the pest, you should work with Adams Exterminating Company. We're equipped to handle large infestations. To learn more about our services, give us a call.