The carpet beetle is difficult to find in modern apartments and private houses, but everyone should know that such an insect exists. It may appear, as always, unexpectedly. This pest prefers to feed on human skin, but does not refuse either indoor plants or various things located in apartments and of natural origin.
The carpet beetle prefers to be where people live. He likes being close to a person. If such a pest is discovered, it is necessary to immediately begin its destruction. The issue is quite serious and the recommendations should not be ignored.
Carpet beetle: description
The carpet beetle is considered one of the smallest pests, as it grows up to 1-2 mm in length. Therefore, it is not so easy to notice the pest with the naked eye, especially since the color camouflages it perfectly. At the same time, the shade of the pest can be either dark or light. The main color of the shell is brown, which allows it to camouflage against the background of furniture. The body of the beetle is distinguished by an oval, almost rounded shape, with the presence of barely noticeable stripes. There are also a lot of fibers on the body, and instead of a tail there is a long tuft.
Somewhere at the end of May, young individuals are born, since during this period insects mate and lay eggs. Prefers to settle in remote, dark places, such as basements, closets, warehouses. When beetles experience difficulties with food, they begin to move into human apartments. After laying eggs, red caterpillars are born three weeks later. Before a caterpillar becomes an adult, it goes through 6 stages of molting.
Adult specimens do not pose any danger to humans, as they feed mainly on plant sap. As for caterpillars, these voracious creatures feed on everything that may be in their path, and they can easily bite a person. The beetle can go without food for almost 5 years, falling into suspended animation.
Interesting information
Getting rid of carpet beetles is not so easy, since their life activity includes some features. For example:
- Adults are active during the daytime, and in the evening they fly towards the light, so it is not difficult to fight them; it is enough to make primitive traps. As for caterpillars, this method is not suitable for destroying them.
- The larvae are afraid of sunlight, so they prefer to hide in dark, hard-to-reach places, which makes them difficult to find.
- These pests do not tolerate wet conditions, so regular wet cleaning helps to expel the carpet beetle from the apartment.
- Kozheed beetle larvae are more resistant to the action of special control agents compared to moths. Therefore, when destroying moths in an apartment, it is unlikely that you will be able to get rid of the skin beetle larvae.
- Caterpillars never rest and constantly move in search of food sources.
Skin beetle. Furry bugs in the apartment.
Preventive measures
Simple rules will prevent the arrival of skin beetles. First of all, close the places where insects enter, and pack items made from natural fabrics and fur. Hide bulk products under sealed lids. Treat waste collection areas and pet hair.
Wash clothes regularly, wash floors using a disinfectant or vinegar, and clean carpets with hot steam. Throw away or burn damaged items. Inspect cabinets, inside bedside tables, and the bottom and back of furniture more often.
Reasons for the appearance of skin beetles in an apartment
As a rule, people bring carpet beetles into their apartments themselves. Parasites prefer fur items, as well as accumulations of old books. The spread of insects throughout the apartment is often observed after cleaning a closet or warehouse, when the pests begin to hide in other places, away from bright light. When it’s warm outside, beetles have no problem entering apartments through open windows if they don’t have mosquito nets. They can often be seen in the spaces between window frames or in street lighting shades.
Pest control services
Apartment owners who are not confident in their abilities can turn to professionals for help. Disinsection against annoying skin beetles is carried out by special services. Employees of such companies have all the necessary arsenal to exterminate parasites. This is not only special equipment and destructive means, but also possession of certain knowledge and skills.
The problem will be resolved as soon as possible. Objects and property treated during disinfestation will be reliably protected for a long period from such a disaster.
Rating of pest control companies
We suggest that you familiarize yourself with the rating of companies from which you can order disinfestation against skin beetles in an apartment, at home, or in domestic premises. The website provides up-to-date information, contact details, and estimated cost of services.
Is the carpet beetle dangerous for humans?
The carpet beetle is capable of feeding on a variety of foods such as wood, leather and other natural components. Carpet beetle larvae can feed on animal and plant sap. Unfortunately, the larvae of the carpet beetle can bite a person under certain conditions, although they do not purposefully attack a person, like bedbugs, for example. The danger lies in the fact that pests carry various viral and infectious diseases, including helminths.
In addition to the fact that the insect can bite a person, it causes significant damage to furniture and other household items. The beetle can infect large areas with pathogens of various diseases, which leads to serious consequences.
Skin beetle bites are usually quite harmless and do not cause any discomfort. But if a person is prone to allergic reactions, then large red spots with signs of swelling may appear at the bite sites.
Processing rules
The drugs used to treat the house are very strong and can harm household members.
To avoid possible negative consequences, you must follow a number of rules:
- All inhabitants of the house, including animals , must leave it during disinfection.
- When spraying poison , windows and doors should be tightly closed, and the walls should be free of furniture.
- After finishing the treatment , the one who carried out it must also leave the house for several hours.
- After the house has been disinfected , all rooms should be thoroughly ventilated and cleaned, but you should only wash those places that you touch with your hands, so that there are few chemicals left for the larvae that may appear.
- Repeated treatment can be done no earlier than after 14 days.
Effective methods of combating skin beetles
First of all, you need to find the place where the skin beetle larvae are hiding. As a rule, they can be found in hard-to-reach places where direct sunlight does not reach. Pests are distinguished by a certain cunning. If a clutch of eggs is detected, success is almost 100% guaranteed. In case of such luck, it is better to destroy the eggs immediately.
If the beetles were found in winter, then to destroy them it is enough to take things out into the cold.
Thorough cleaning of the room with a vacuum cleaner increases the chances of getting rid of such parasites, but does not provide a 100% guarantee. The larvae have a long development period, so after a few weeks the beetles may reappear in the apartment. To get rid of such parasites forever, it is better to use chemical means of control. Moreover, in retail outlets you can choose a drug, as they say, “for all occasions.”
How to get rid of beetle larvae
Chemical control agents
The following can be suggested as effective drugs:
- Product based on boric acid . The use of the drug is not difficult. It is enough to scatter it on the floor near the baseboards, on the window sills, next to the carpeting. This chemical does not pose a danger to humans, does not have a pungent odor and does not interfere with human life. But if small children and animals live in the house, then using the drug is prohibited. Significant harm should not be expected from boric acid-based powder, but food poisoning or allergic reactions are possible.
- Special solutions . They are recommended for use in cases of severe contamination of the premises. In such cases, it is recommended to treat the entire apartment, and not just individual rooms. Almost all solutions do not leave marks on furniture and other household items. This is how they deal with delicate items: they are wrapped in a bag along with a container in which the chemical is located. After a few hours, things can be unwound. They mainly use drugs such as “Executioner” or “Tetrix”. If everything is done responsibly and correctly, then you can get rid of the carpet beetle forever.
- Aerosols . These are the same insecticides contained in a pressurized can. Although the drugs are not as effective as special solutions, their use is justified in some cases. The action of the drugs is based on the fact that the substance penetrates the chitinous layer, which leads to paralysis of the insect and its death. Since the larvae do not have a chitinous layer, they die much faster. Preparations in the form of aerosols are cheaper, but they have a higher consumption. The drugs “Raptor”, “Raid”, “Clean House”, “Dichlorvos” and others are widely popular.
- Pills . Preparations in tablet form help fight moths, as well as carpet beetles. In this case, Fr. At the same time, tablets are more attractive to larvae, since adult individuals prefer food in liquid form. The use of tablets is considered as an adjuvant. Products in the form of tablets have a specific aroma and this factor must always be taken into account when choosing a pest control product.
Carpet beetles, having settled in an apartment, cause a lot of inconvenience to the residents. Due to their specific coloring, this pest is difficult to notice as they blend in with the shade of the furniture. Fighting such pests takes a lot of effort and resources. It is very important to destroy all the beetles, since even one larva, after some time, will give birth to offspring and the beetles will reappear in the apartment. The first signs of a carpet beetle appearing in the house, as evidenced by holes in the furniture or on the windowsill, indicate that it’s time to put aside everything in the house and start eliminating uninvited guests.
Treating a room, especially with chemical control agents, requires the use of personal protective equipment, such as gloves, goggles, a gauze bandage and a protective gown. During treatment, all residents, as well as animals and indoor plants, are evacuated from the premises. After treatment, it is not recommended to enter the room for some time, as indicated in the instructions.
Folk remedies
Folk compositions based on natural ingredients are not as effective as chemical agents, but they are suitable in cases where not many beetles have bred yet, and also as preventive measures. And although they will not be able to cope with the invasion of pests, they can scare them away. That's why:
- To repel pests, you should place cotton pads soaked in ethers of lavender, tansy, lemon balm, etc. in the kitchen. Many pests cannot tolerate such aromas.
- Carpet beetles, like most pests, die from the action of boric acid.
- The use of table vinegar also helps protect the apartment from many insects. To do this, take 1 liter of hot water and dissolve a tablespoon of vinegar in it. After this, the solution is poured into a spray bottle and areas such as window sills, baseboards, trim, shelves and cabinets are sprayed with it. The smell of vinegar will make uninvited guests look for a new, more comfortable place to stay.
Removing the leather beetle
Treatment of carpet beetle bites
Despite its very small size, the carpet beetle bites quite painfully. Young children and women react especially violently to its bites. In addition, they can infect humans with serious infectious and viral diseases. Therefore, it is very important to immediately treat the bite site with a disinfectant such as hydrogen peroxide. If this does not help and the bite site begins to become inflamed, it is better to consult a doctor immediately.
To prevent an allergic reaction, you need to take an antihistamine, such as Diazolin. The wound site can be treated with moisturizing creams, which speeds up the healing process. If everything is done on time and correctly, then there should be no problems after a carpet beetle bite.
General information
The carpet beetle (also known as the carpet beetle) is not a parasite that lives exclusively in human homes. In nature, their habitat is bird nests in tree hollows. Beetles and their larvae feed on various wastes and remains of animal origin.
He can get into a human home with books, carpets, clothes brought there, or by accidentally flying through a window. And here wool, fur and silk products become its food, but this insect will not refuse human food.
If you find this insect in your home, you should get rid of it as quickly as possible.
