Telling Havering's Carpet Beetles From Moth Damage
Fitted carpets in Collier Row's semis and bungalows
Collier Row's postwar semis and bungalows mostly still have fitted carpet throughout, and the fluff and debris that collects underneath and between floorboards over the years is exactly what carpet beetle larvae feed on undisturbed.
Older textiles and furnishings in Elm Park
Elm Park's smaller 1930s houses often hold onto older soft furnishings — curtains, upholstered chairs, stored blankets — for longer than newer housing stock, giving carpet beetle larvae more to work through once they establish.
Signs to Look For
- Irregular holes in natural-fibre carpets, rugs, clothing or soft furnishings
- Small, bristly larvae ("woolly bears") in carpet edges, cupboards or under furniture
- Tiny shed larval skins gathering in corners or fabric folds
- Adult beetles, a few millimetres long, seen on windowsills in spring
Dealing With Carpet Beetle in a Havering Home
Because the larvae and the damage they leave look similar to moth, it's worth having activity confirmed before treating — we'll check this when we visit.
