Carpet Beetle Pest Control

Carpet Beetle Control FAQs

Choosing a pest control service for your home comes with many questions. When you're ready to learn more, call our office and talk with our friendly staff. We’ll ensure you get the answers you need on our services, pricing, appointments and any other questions you may have.

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  What do you use to eliminate carpet beetles?

  Alongside our specialized, professional pest control products, we take a multi-tiered approach to ridding your home of beetles. This will include a thorough inspection at your home by one of our licensed technicians in order to determine what specific insect or pest is causing the infestation, where their nests and foraging grounds are located, and what treatment strategy will be most effective given the conditions. Many do-it-yourself pest treatment methods can often exacerbate existing infestations, but our products and methods are all backed by our 100% customer satisfaction guarantee!

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  What are carpet beetles?

  Carpet beetles are a type of nuisance insect commonly found in the home. They can be just as invasive as bed bugs, but unlike bed bugs, carpet beetles don’t rely on humans for sustenance. While they can produce rashes and allergic reactions, their primary interest in your living space is the food sources it provides for them. The adult beetles feed on a typical insect diet of seeds, plants, crumbs, and similar items in your home, but the larvae are the real problem. Carpet beetle larvae consume fabric and natural fibers, leading to large-scale damage to carpeting, upholstery, and clothing if an infestation is left unchecked. The larvae begin to feed as soon as they hatch. The bristle-like hairs on the larvae are also known to cause significant skin irritation.

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  How do I identify carpet beetles?

  There are many varieties of carpet beetles, but the Varied Carpet Beetle (Anthrenus verbasci) is the most common encountered in the Pacific Northwest. It is oval in shape and quite small, most often being the size of a pin-head, though some can be as large as small ladybugs. The adult beetles are a mix of light browns and tans, displayed in a pattern on their back. Live adult carpet beetles can be found on walls, window sashes, and doorways, or flying towards indoor light sources.
  
  Carpet beetle larvae are quite small and can be confused with silverfish, due to the dense, long hairs near the ends of the body. They can be referred to as “wooly bears,” or “buffalo moths,” and are often yellowish-brown, off-white, or black. Carpet beetle larvae can be discovered by searching carpets, trim, and bedding where an infestation is suspected, or in areas infrequently vacuumed. Often, only casts will be found (empty husks where the beetles have shed their shells during various stages of growth). Carpet beetle larvae will usually be slightly larger than their adult counterparts.
  
  If there’s any question as to what type of pest is infesting your home, give us a call and let one of our friendly, helpful professionals give you the guidance and assistance you need!

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  Do carpet beetles bite?

  Adult carpet beetles do not bite humans. Frequently, individuals who have encountered carpet beetles -- especially while asleep in bed -- will believe they have bed bugs, as the irritating marks left by contact with carpet beetle hairs can cause what appear to be small bites. The most common reaction is rashing and itching, with bite-like marks that are similar to a bed bug bite pattern. Sensitivity to the hairs is an allergic reaction, and is most often acquired after long standing contact, meaning that the infestation can persist for some time before you begin having reactions to it.

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  How did carpet beetles get into my home?

  Carpet beetles typically infest in the early Spring through late Fall, and the most common method of entry to your home is in feathers, seeds, lint, wool, or even dried pet food. They are also common in bee or wasp nests. The winged adults can easily fly in through open doors and windows or crawl in through cracks, gaps, and vents. A female carpet beetle can lay anywhere between 25 to 100 eggs, which hatch into larvae in a matter of weeks. Infestations can be difficult to remove without professional intervention, as even a few eggs left in a home can completely restart the cycle of infestation.

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  What types of training do your technicians go through?

  At Bug Zapper, we are committed to providing you with the most knowledgeable, experienced, and professional pest control technicians in the Pacific Northwest. Our technicians are all fully licensed and certified in Oregon, in addition to undergoing advanced training though our intensive internal apprenticeship training program. All technicians complete state testing for laws and safety, including IIHS General, IIHS Structural, and Agricultural Vertebrate tests before going through a month-long apprenticeship field training program. Our staff also completes ongoing advanced training and attends industry-based seminars to ensure our knowledge and methods are up-to-date. We are fortunate to have an Associate Certified Entomologist (ACE) on our staff -- one of only 12 currently operating in the entire state of Oregon.

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  Do you have same day service?

  Bug Zapper is known for our excellent response times, included as part of our all-around excellent customer care. We try to provide same day service whenever possible. Bug Zapper will make every effort to prioritize your needs and provide you with services that are timely and free of hassle. A pest service technician can be at your home in most cases within 24-48 hrs. Give our office a call and we will gladly work with what best fits your schedule and time!