Carpet Moths and Carpet Beetles

Every once in a while, a carpet will start to develop a bald spot seemingly out of nowhere. When it happens to men, we blame our mothers side of the family, but when it happens to carpet, it’s usually a good indication of an insect infestation.

Carpet Moths

Carpet moths are harmless to humans, but a nightmare for rugs. They feed on dust, old skin, pet stains, and fabrics. This makes your carpets a prime place for them to lay their eggs, as their offspring could have a rich source of food on hatching.Most of the damage to your carpet is done by the larvae of the moth, not the adult moth itself. For this reason, it can be difficult to see the problem until it’s already out of control.This isn’t meant to give anyone nightmares, but it should be a good reminder to keep your carpets cleaned regularly. Weekly vacuuming and annual professional carpet cleaning will leave little sustenance behind for pests like the carpet moth. Carpets moths are not specific to any geographic area. They are quite common in South East Asia, and perhaps less common in northern European lands, but we still see a number of infestations right here in Victoria.

Carpet Beetles

Carpet beetles have much the same story. The adults cannot be blamed for the damage to our carpets and clothes, but they will see older dirty carpets and rugs as the ideal place for their young ones. While we use the general term “Carpet Beetle”, there are actually a few different species of beetle that would fit the description.If you notice an infestation of larvae in your rugs or carpet, call us right away. Even if you clean the carpet, and vacuum away the visible larvae, there may still be dormant eggs in the fibers. If the infestation has proceeded beyond our ability to eradicate it, we would then suggest a trustworthy pest controller.Again, all of this is easier avoided by maintaining your floors with regular cleanings. Make them a barren and desolate land for carpet moths and beetles, and you will never have a problem.