Varied Carpet Beetle Food

The varied carpet beetle anthrenus verbasci is a 3 mm long beetle belonging to the family dermestidae 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.

Varied carpet beetle food.

Larval food sources play a significant role in determining the duration of a carpet beetle s growth cycle. Carpet beetle larva feeding on a wool sports jacket. Once found infested items and susceptible articles nearby should be laundered dry cleaned or discarded. They often eat along the edges or.

Verbasci was also the first insect to be shown to have an. Throw out badly infested items. Adult carpet beetles live both outside and inside homes. Concealed areas e g cuffs collars fabric folds are often preferred.

Plant based materials cereal pet food bird seed etc stored in kitchens and basements or cached by rodents are other possible sources of carpet beetles. The life cycle of a carpet beetle ranges from two months to several years in length. Shed molted skins of carpet beetles associated with mice nesting in an attic. Most carpet beetles develop up to four generations yearly while varied and black carpet beetles develop only one.

In the varied carpet beetle the head end is narrower than the tail end a characteristic that distinguishes it from black carpet beetle larva. Remove old spider webs and bird rodent bee and wasp nests which can harbor infestations. Eliminate accumulations of lint hair dead insects and other debris that serve as food for carpet beetles.