Entomology Carpet Beetles

These small dark colored beetles are an invasive pest in many homes.

Entomology carpet beetles.

The beetles in the anthrenus genus are called carpet and museum beetles. Adult carpet beetles feed on flower pollen and do not damage wool ens and other fabrics. Carpet beetles as their name implies sometimes infest carpets. The most frequently encountered carpet beetle in new york state is the black carpet beetle attagenus unicolor also known as attagenus megatoma.

Larvae are carrot shaped hairy or bristly brownish and about 1 4 inch long. Carpet beetles are about 1 8 inch in length and have elytra covered scales. We provide free insect identification services for electronic submissions for residents of massachusetts. Other common names include larder beetle hide or leather beetles carpet beetles and khapra beetles.

Similar to clothes moths the pests also feed on many other items composed of wool fur felt silk feathers skins and leather. The larvae molt several times and may stay in this stage for two months to a year. Key characteristics for adults are round oval shaped bodies covered in scales or setae. There are nearly 200 species of carpet beetles in the subfamily attageninae.

The common name of the beetle species attagenus unicolor is black carpet beetle. The usually clubbed antennae fit into deep grooves. University of kentucky entomology entfact 609 the adults are small 1 16 to 1 8 inch oval shaped beetles ranging in color from black to various mottled patterns of white brown yellow and orange. Shetlar department of entomology carpet beetles feed on animal and plant substances such as wool fur feathers hair hides horns silk velvet felts and bone as well as seeds grain cereals cake mixes red pepper rye meal and flour.

There are several kinds of carpet beetles that attack woolens. Such materials contain keratin a fibrous animal protein which the larvae are able to digest. There are approximately 500 to 700 species worldwide. Varied carpet beetles are found in carpets woolen goods furs stuffed animals dried plant products silks and other materials containing animal products and natural fibers.

They can range in size from 1 to 12 mm. The adult beetle is dull black in color is elliptical in outline about 1 4 inch long and the antennae and legs are brown. The varied carpet beetle s life cycle is 249 to 354 days. Their larvae can chew through fabric damaging clothing furniture coverings and carpets.

Adults often are found on window ledges indoors or outdoors on flowers in the early spring. Larvae can damage textiles even synthetic materials.