What Does Carpet Beetle Larvae Look Like

Carpet beetle larvae can look like fuzzy worms.

What does carpet beetle larvae look like.

Where do carpet beetles live. In spring female carpet beetles lay 25 to 100 eggs which hatch into larvae within two weeks. Depending on the specific species they can be tapered like a carrot or oval in shape. Carpet beetle larvae grow up to 1 4 of an inch in length.

They may look mottled with black brown and white or be solid black depending on the species. Carpet beetle eggs are white or cream in color and measure 1 4 to 1 2 mm in length. Eggs have spinelike projections visible at one end and are distinguished by their oval shape. Their most unique feature is the bristly hairs that are located on their backs.

To know where to focus the brunt of your cleaning first look for the primary source of the infestation which will be the area with the most signs of damage and beetles. Carpet beetle larvae feed on the surface of fabrics sometimes just removing the nap. They can be found near upholstered furniture closets air ducts and lint buildups. It grows up to 5 mm in length.

Carpet beetle larvae are yellow brown about inch long and covered with bristly hairs. They have rounded hard bodies and wings beneath their shells. Both adult carpet beetles and larvae can infest your home but the larvae do the most damage by eating organic materials like wool leather and silk. They are usually brown or tan and have white and tan stripes on their bodies.

The hair is organized in a way that it forms a combination of dark and light patches. You will notice shed skins that look like little shells. Carpet beetle larvae are able to mature under a variety of humidity levels and temperatures although they tend to avoid bright areas. Because carpet beetle larvae are bigger than bed bugs you may be more likely to see the beetles themselves.

Depending on food sources and climate larvae may take over a year to develop into adults. Their larvae are grublike and covered with hairs. If you re not sure which you have you can have an exterminator come look for bedbugs. They have short legs and can move but they avoid light and remain hidden.

They have bands across their body and long hair like extensions on either one or both ends of their bodies. Seeing these around your home is one sign of an infestation. Adult carpet beetles are oval shaped with six legs and two antennae. In other cases they will clip fibers leaving irregular holes or small open spaces in the weave.

The black carpet beetle dead skin from the beetles along with shed hairs from the furry larvae known as woolly bears leads to severe human skin irritation.