Carpet Beetles in Tennessee | Pest ID Guide
Quick Facts About Carpet Beetles
Carpet beetles are among the most common beetles in Tennessee homes. The adults are harmless, but their larvae eat animal-based materials, damaging wool clothing, rugs, upholstery, and stored items, often out of sight.- Adult size: About 1/16 to 3/16 inch
- Adult color: Varied carpet beetles are round and mottled white, brown, and yellow; black carpet beetles are oval and shiny black
- Larvae: Small, hairy, brown, and carrot-shaped or banded; these do the damage
- Larvae eat: Wool, silk, fur, feathers, leather, pet hair, dead insects, and some stored foods
- Adults eat: Flower pollen outdoors
- Active: Adults are most noticeable at windows in spring and early summer
How to Identify Carpet Beetles
Adults
Adults are tiny and often found on windowsills, because they’re drawn to light as they try to get outside to feed on pollen. Varied carpet beetles look like tiny, speckled ladybugs; black carpet beetles are solid black and slightly longer.
Larvae
Larvae are fuzzy, slow-moving, and usually hidden in dark places: under furniture, along carpet edges, in closets, and in stored items. As they grow, they shed bristly skins, which are often the first sign of a problem.
Signs of Carpet Beetles
- Holes in fabrics: Irregular holes in wool sweaters, blankets, rugs, and upholstery
- Thin spots in rugs: Especially along edges and under furniture
- Shed skins: Small, bristly, empty larval skins in closets, drawers, and corners
- Adults at windows: Tiny round beetles on windowsills in spring
- Damaged stored items: Holes in stored wool, feathers, taxidermy, or pet food
Can Carpet Beetles Cause a Rash?
Some people react to the tiny hairs on carpet beetle larvae with an itchy rash that’s often mistaken for bed bug bites. Carpet beetles don’t bite. If you have itchy bumps but can’t find bed bugs, carpet beetles are worth considering. See our bed bug guide.
How to Get Rid of Carpet Beetles
- Vacuum everything: Carpets, rugs, edges, under furniture, closets, and upholstery. Empty the vacuum outside.
- Clean infested items: Wash in hot water, dry clean, or freeze small items for several days.
- Store items sealed: Keep wool, furs, and feathers clean and in airtight containers.
- Remove food sources: Clean up pet hair, lint, and dead insects, and check attics for old bird or wasp nests.
- Screen windows: Keep adults from flying in during spring.
Widespread infestations may need professional treatment of carpets, closets, and hidden areas. See our beetle control services.
Frequently Asked Questions
What do carpet beetles look like?
Adults are tiny, round beetles, often mottled white, brown, and yellow, or solid black. Larvae are small, hairy, and brown.
Do carpet beetles bite?
No, but the hairs on their larvae can cause an itchy rash in some people.
What do carpet beetles eat?
The larvae eat wool, silk, fur, feathers, leather, pet hair, and dead insects. Adults feed on pollen outdoors.
Why are there tiny beetles on my windowsill?
Adult carpet beetles are drawn to light as they try to get outside to feed on flowers.
How do I get rid of carpet beetles?
Vacuum thoroughly, clean or freeze infested items, store fabrics in sealed containers, and remove lint, pet hair, and old nests.
