Carpet beetles
Carpet Beetles in a Large Totteridge Loft
The lofts of large houses are often used for storage on a scale smaller houses cannot match: wardrobes of old clothes, rolled rugs, curtains, blankets, children's toys and boxes of papers. Carpet beetle larvae feed on wool, feathers, fur and other animal material, and a quiet loft full of textiles suits them well. Where carpet beetles hide lists the usual places.
Birds' nests in the eaves
Sparrows, starlings and pigeons nest in gaps at the eaves, and a house with several roof lines has more of them. Once the birds leave, the old nest holds feathers and debris that larvae feed on. From the eaves they move into the loft insulation and stored textiles, and then into the rooms below. On a house with wings and dormers, the nests may be in a section of roof that is never visited, so the beetles appear long after the birds have gone and nobody links the two.
Windowsills in spring
Adult beetles are drawn to light in spring and early summer, so they collect on windowsills, often in the top-floor rooms under the loft. Why carpet beetles appear on windowsills explains what that tells you.
Rooms under the loft
When larvae leave the loft they drop into the rooms below through gaps round light fittings, the loft hatch and the tops of built-in wardrobes. Top-floor bedrooms, and especially guest rooms that are rarely used, are where they settle, feeding along carpet edges and under beds. What carpet beetle larvae look like helps you recognise them.
Signs to Check
- Small round beetles, patterned brown, black and cream, on windowsills
- Small bristly larvae, sometimes called woolly bears, in stored textiles
- Holes in wool clothes, blankets or rugs kept in the loft
- Shed larval skins in boxes, drawers or along carpet edges
- Old birds' nests in the eaves or at the edge of the loft floor
How to know you have carpet beetles sets these out. If the damage is on carpets in rooms that are rarely used, see carpet moth control in Totteridge as well.
Skin Irritation
The hairs on carpet beetle larvae can irritate the skin in some people, causing an itchy rash that can be mistaken for bites. If you have a rash that does not settle, speak to a pharmacist or GP. Carpet beetle larvae and skin explains more.
What to Do Now
- Go through stored textiles in the loft, and bag or clean anything with holes or larvae
- Vacuum the loft floor round stored items, and along the eaves where you can reach safely
- Vacuum windowsills and carpet edges in the rooms below
- Ask a roofer to check for old birds' nests and close gaps once any nesting season is over
Before putting textiles back into a large loft, store them clean in sealed bags or boxes rather than open wardrobes or bin bags, and label them so they can be checked each spring. Carpet beetles and clothes explains what is most at risk.
Wild birds and their active nests are protected by law, so do not remove or disturb a nest while it is in use.
Booking Carpet Beetle Treatment
When you book carpet beetle control, say whether the beetles are in the loft, the rooms below, or both, and how much is stored up there. You will be told what to expect afterwards; how long treatment takes depends on the house and how established the beetles are. For the borough-wide picture, see Carpet Beetle Control Barnet. If you also hear scratching in the roof, squirrel control may be relevant.
