Female beetles lay about 50-100 eggs on or near vulnerable materials. In springtime, they often appear on windowsills, suggesting an infestation may be present inside the home.

Adult carpet beetles feed on flower pollen and do not damage woolens and other fabrics. (For more information about clothes moths, see 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. Facts about Carpet BeetlesĬarpet beetles are common in dwellings, and their damage is often mistaken for that of clothes moths. Infestations of carpet beetles can develop undetected, causing harm to vulnerable items. Cotton and synthetic fabrics such as polyester and rayon are rarely attacked unless blended with wool, or heavily soiled with food stains or body oils.

Such materials contain keratin, a fibrous animal protein which the larvae are able to digest. Similar to clothes moths, the pests also feed on many other items composed of wool, fur, felt, silk, feathers, skins, and leather. University of Kentucky College of AgricultureĬarpet beetles, as their name implies, sometimes infest carpets. ENTFACT-601: Carpet Beetles | Download PDF by Michael F.

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