6 Signs of Carpet Beetles in Your House

Carpet beetles are as ubiquitous in our homes as fruit flies or dust mites. While many homeowners might spy the occasional carpet beetle on a wall or window, how can you tell the difference between a lone beetle that wandered inside and a full-blown carpet beetle infestation? First, look for these six common signs of carpet beetles, then consider our tips for getting rid of and preventing carpet beetles.

Signs of Carpet Beetles

Carpet beetles may be tiny, but they can leave behind surprisingly mighty proof that they’re hanging around your house.

1. Visible Carpet Beetles

While it may seem obvious, the biggest sign of carpet beetles is seeing the adult beetles themselves. You’ll see adult beetles on windowsills and walls or near sources of light.

Carpet beetles are small, less than 4 millimeters in length. These beetles are oval-shaped with brown, black, tan, yellow, or a combination of colors in a mottled pattern. If the size and color don’t tip you off, look for tiny hair-like strands that make the beetles look furry.

2. Visible Larvae

Larvae are even more destructive than adult carpet beetles. The beetle larvae are commonly found on rugs, carpets, furniture, and clothing.

Beetle larvae are about the same length as adult carpet beetles, but they are tan or brown and look like small worms. They have even more hair-like strands all over their bodies that make them look fuzzy or even spiky. 

3. Clustered Holes on Fabrics

Young beetles feed on fabrics, so you may notice small holes clustered close together on your favorite shirts or blankets.

4. Threadbare Carpet Patches

As the name suggests, carpet beetles will also feed on carpet or rugs, especially those made of wool. You may notice small patches that are bare, which is a sign of a bigger carpet beetle infestation. But keep in mind that threadbare patches could mean other problems—this is also a common sign of carpet moths.

5. Beetle Droppings

Carpet beetles will leave behind small droppings, which you’ll notice near windowsills where they’re active. The droppings are tiny, resembling ground black pepper.

6. Bare Spots on Natural Fur Clothing

If you own any natural fur coats, other fur products, or feathery items around the house, look for small bare patches or fur that falls out easily. This is another sign that carpet beetles are in your home.

How to Know You Need to Hire a Pro for Carpet Beetle Control

Seeing a couple of carpet beetles in your house over the summer isn’t a cause for concern. However, if you’re seeing a few beetles a day, that likely means there’s an infestation. You can start with some DIY methods to control the beetles, but if they don’t work or you’re worried about carpet beetle damage to your rugs, carpets, and clothing, hire a local pest control pro to handle the issue as quickly as possible.

Can I DIY Carpet Beetle Control?

Yes, there are many ways you can get rid of carpet beetles the DIY way. You can use commercially available traps designed for carpet beetles to help catch adult beetles. You’ll also need to use additional methods to get rid of larvae and eggs. Boric acid and some insecticides can help, too, but these are not safe to use around children or pets. You can also try diatomaceous earth, which is okay to use around kids and pets, so long as it isn’t ingested. 

However, a faster, more effective way to fully eradicate a carpet beetle infestation is to leave this job to the pros.

How to Prevent Carpet Beetles

Once you get rid of carpet beetles, you’ll want to keep up with some regular sealing and cleaning chores to prevent more beetles from coming into the house. To keep carpet beetles at bay:

• Seal gaps: Carpet beetles can come inside your home from the outdoors, so sealing openings is an effective way to keep more from coming in.

• Clean floors often: Vacuum at least once per week, and steam clean your carpets at least twice per year.

• Launder new-to-you clothing: Whether you buy new clothes from a retail shop or secondhand, always wash and dry or dry clean new pieces to minimize the risk of bringing bugs in your home.

• Store clothing: Clean and store clothing, especially furs and natural fibers, in air-tight containers.

How Much Does It Cost to Get Rid of Carpet Beetles?

Hiring a pest control service costs $110 to $270 per visit. The worse the infestation, the more visits you’ll need. It takes a few days (or up to several weeks or months for severe infestations) to get rid of carpet beetles since you’ll need to get rid of the adults, the larvae, and the eggs. A pro can help you control a carpet beetle infestation faster than DIY methods alone.