Identifying the larva first
The carpet beetle larva is a stubby, bristly little grub, tapering at one end, and much slower-moving than a carpet moth larva; people often compare it to a tiny hairy carrot, true near Greenwich too, where the Georgian maritime core around the park and the river. Once fully grown, the beetle is small and rounded with a mottled shell, and windowsills are where most people first notice one, just as near Eltham, where suburban houses and semis spreading out from the Eltham High Street.
Old nests in the borough's converted flats
One of the most common sources in Greenwich's older converted flats, particularly around Woolwich and Plumstead, is an old bird's nest or an inactive wasp nest sitting in the roof void above. Carpet beetles feed on the feathers, fur and insect debris in an old nest, and once that food runs out they move down into the flat looking for a new source - often when carpets and stored fabrics start showing damage.
Where else to check
It isn't only carpets worth checking, stored wool jumpers, dried flowers, old feather cushions, and the dust-covered underside of furniture that never gets shifted are all worth a look, true near Charlton too, where terraced streets close to the river and the industrial land along the Thames path. It's worth checking skirting boards closely near an exterior wall, particularly where a nest could be sitting just above, true near Eltham too, where suburban houses and semis spreading out from the Eltham High Street.
Tracing the source
Treating the carpet alone rarely solves a repeat problem if an old nest above is still feeding new beetles into the flat. If cleaning isn't stopping the damage, get the roof void checked along with the rooms underneath, much as it does near Kidbrooke, where a mix of older estate housing and newer riverside-style apartment developments under the Kidbrooke.
What to do before treatment
- Vacuum thoroughly, including carpet edges, skirting boards and under furniture
- Wash or dry-clean any affected woollens and feather-filled items
- Remove dried flowers or old nests you can safely reach and dispose of them
- Keep a note of which rooms and items are affected
Booking carpet beetle treatment in Greenwich
Carpet beetle treatment in Greenwich is priced at £180 for the first room and £60 for each additional room, and given that around Woolwich, where dense converted flats and former barracks buildings, it is worth checking older rooms first before you book carpet beetle treatment and tell us which rooms show damage, with the rest on the Greenwich carpet beetle treatment page.
