Carpet beetles
From Birds' Nests to Bedrooms
Carpet beetle larvae feed on feather, fur, wool and dead insects, and an abandoned bird's nest, full of down and debris, is an ideal nursery. On the older roofs of the Watling Estate, a lifted tile or a gap behind the fascia lets birds nest in the roof edge, and when the young have flown the nest stays behind. Adult beetles emerging from it crawl through gaps in the ceiling or round the loft hatch, so the upstairs rooms are where they tend to show up first.
Windowsills in spring
Adult carpet beetles are small, rounded and mottled, and in spring and early summer they head for the light. Several on a bedroom windowsill is often the first thing anyone notices; why they appear on windowsills explains it. The adults feed on pollen outdoors but lay their eggs indoors, where the larvae will find food.
Larvae in stored things
The larvae are short, bristly and brown, and curl up when disturbed. They feed out of sight: along carpet edges under a bed, in a drawer of wool jumpers, inside boxes of old clothes in the loft. What carpet beetle larvae look like and where they hide help you track them down.
Their food is not only textiles. Dead insects gathered on a windowsill or inside a light fitting, fluff and hair under the bed, and pet hair along the skirting all feed them, which is why regular vacuuming in the corners of the upstairs rooms makes a real difference once the source has been dealt with.
Signs in a Burnt Oak House
- Small mottled beetles on upstairs windowsills from spring
- Bristly larvae or their cast skins along skirting boards and under beds
- Irregular holes in wool clothes, blankets or rugs
- Birds going in and out of a gap in the eaves above the affected room
- Larvae in boxes stored in the loft
Smooth cream larvae in silky tubes are more likely carpet moths in Burnt Oak; carpet beetles vs carpet moths shows the difference.
Skin Irritation From the Larvae
Some people react to the tiny hairs on the larvae and get an itchy rash that can be mistaken for bites. Carpet beetle larvae and skin explains more. For a rash or itching, speak to a pharmacist or GP, and call 999 for signs of a severe allergic reaction. If bites appear in lines after sleeping, consider bed bugs as well.
Around the Visit
When you book carpet beetle treatment, tell us which rooms are affected and whether you have seen birds using the eaves. Each affected room is counted; halls, landings and stairs are not. Before the visit, vacuum carpet edges and under beds thoroughly, bag affected clothes and move stored items away from the edges of rooms. How long it takes depends on the house and how established the beetles are; if you still find larvae after the period we give you, get back in touch.
Dealing With the Source in the Roof
Treating the rooms deals with the beetles in the house, but an old nest in the eaves will keep supplying more. Once the birds have left and the nest is no longer in use, have it cleared and the gap repaired by a roofer. Wild birds' nests that are in use are protected by law, so nothing should be removed while birds are nesting. If you rent, the gap in the roof is something your landlord needs to know about. Preventing carpet beetles returning has more ideas, and Carpet Beetle Control Barnet covers the borough.
