Q: Should I be worried if I see a carpet beetle?

• <div><p>While carpet beetles won&rsquo;t bite you like bed bugs do, they still aren&rsquo;t pests you&rsquo;d want to find in your home. Carpet beetles in their larva stage can be voracious and cause a lot of damage as they eat through fabrics on furniture, clothing, bedding, rugs, and other materials. If you see carpet beetles, you&rsquo;ll want to have an exterminator come by to assess the damage and control the infestation.</p></div>

Question 1

Should I be worried if I see a carpet beetle?

Accepted Answer

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While carpet beetles won’t bite you like bed bugs do, they still aren’t pests you’d want to find in your home. Carpet beetles in their larva stage can be voracious and cause a lot of damage as they eat through fabrics on furniture, clothing, bedding, rugs, and other materials. If you see carpet beetles, you’ll want to have an exterminator come by to assess the damage and control the infestation.

Question 2

What attracts wolf spiders to your house?

Accepted Answer

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The main reason wolf spiders gravitate towards houses is the presence of their prey, including insects like flies and ants. Their attraction is also heightened by the availability of suitable shelter in areas cluttered or undisturbed and in moisture-rich environments like basements. Openings and gaps in the structure provide an easy access point for these spiders. During cold weather, wolf spiders may also seek warmth indoors, making your home an attractive refuge during harsh weather conditions.

Question 3

Do cellar spiders feed on brown recluses?

Accepted Answer

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Yes. Cellar spiders are predatory and feed on other insects, including other spiders. They eat flies, mosquitos, gnats, moths, and larger prey. That larger prey includes venomous spiders like the brown recluse and the black widow. Basically, a cellar spider is pretty brave and will feed on anything that gets into its web, no matter the size.

Question 4

What is considered a spider infestation?

Accepted Answer

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A spider infestation happens when an unusually high and problematic presence of spiders occurs in a home to the point it becomes disruptive or poses a significant nuisance. If you notice an increase in spider sightings, numerous webs throughout the home, or see multiple spiders daily, it's likely you have an infestation. In cases where the types of spiders seen are venomous or medically significant species are present, the number of spiders is insignificant and would require pest control measures. On average, pest control costs between $300 to $550 for one-time service.

Question 5

Is there anything I shouldn’t do when trying to get rid of snakes?

Accepted Answer

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Even if you have extreme ophidiophobia (fear of snakes), don’t try to shoot or kill them with a shovel. Besides being pretty cruel, killing snakes in most states is illegal unless your life is at risk and many species are protected.

Plus, you're putting yourself at greater risk using these techniques if it goes wrong and the now-angry snake is venomous.