Identifying the larva first
Picture a stubby, bristly grub that tapers at one end, like a miniature hairy carrot, and you have the carpet beetle larva; it stays largely put, unlike its carpet moth counterpart, true near Hampton too, where riverside houses and gardens close to Hampton Court and Bushy Park. You'll often find the adult, small, rounded, mottled, stuck on a windowsill, having hatched indoors by chance and looking for an exit, true near Barnes too, where village-style streets and large houses around the pond and the river towpath.
Period houses with stored textiles
The large period houses common across Richmond and Kew often have stored textiles built up over years - old curtains, spare carpet remnants, feather-filled cushions in a rarely used room - and any of these can feed carpet beetle larvae quietly for a long time before damage is noticed.
Old nests in the roof
One of the most common sources is an old bird's nest or an inactive wasp nest sitting in the eaves or loft. Carpet beetles feed on the feathers, fur and insect debris left in an old nest, and once that runs out, the beetles move down into the house looking for a new source.
Where else to check
Besides carpets, look at stored woollens, dried flower arrangements and the dusty undersides of furniture that rarely gets moved. It's worth checking skirting boards closely near an exterior wall, particularly where a nest could be sitting just above, just as near Twickenham, where riverside houses and terraces close to the Thames.
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
- Keep a note of which rooms and items are affected
Booking carpet beetle treatment in Richmond upon Thames
Carpet beetle treatment in Richmond upon Thames is priced at £180 for the first room and £60 for each additional room, and given that around Teddington, where a mix of Victorian terraces and larger detached houses near Bushy Park and the, 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 Richmond upon Thames carpet beetle treatment page.
