Identifying the larva first
The larva itself is short, hairy and narrows toward one end, which is why people often liken it to a tiny hairy carrot; it also barely moves compared with a carpet moth caterpillar, much as it does near Nunhead, where victorian terraces on the rising ground around the cemetery and the green. You'll often find the adult, small, rounded, mottled, stuck on a windowsill, having hatched indoors by chance and looking for an exit, just as near Rotherhithe, where riverside developments and converted dock buildings.
Converted flats in Walworth and Camberwell
Converted flats across Walworth and Camberwell often keep fitted carpets and stored soft furnishings from a previous occupant, and both give carpet beetle larvae a place to establish quietly, particularly in a room that's changed hands more than once without a full refit.
Old nests in the roof
In the borough's Victorian terraces, an old bird's nest or an inactive wasp nest sitting in the eaves is one of the most common sources. 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.
Where else to check
Besides carpets, look at stored woollens, dried flower arrangements and the dusty undersides of furniture that rarely gets moved. Skirting near an exterior wall deserves a close look, especially close to where a nest might be positioned above - the same pattern holds near Peckham, where victorian terraces around Rye Lane sit alongside the large ex-council blocks near the old.
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 Southwark
Carpet beetle treatment in Southwark is priced at £180 for the first room and £60 for each additional room, and given that around Dulwich, where larger period villas and semis near the park and the village, 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 Southwark carpet beetle treatment page.
