Carpet beetles find their way into your house and can do a lot of damage (Image: Express)
They hide in our homes all winter but now one little insect is waking up in homes across the UK and is ready to cause chaos if left unchecked.
While certain insects and arachnids packed into all our houses – like spiders – are unavoidable, and even beneficial, the same cannot be said for the carpet beetle. Each year, people across the UK including on the BritishProblems page have begun to report sightings of the insects in their homes at this time of year, as winter weather gives way to spring sunshine in March.
Carpet beetles or carpet bugs as they are sometimes known hide and hibernate in our houses over winter, finding a quiet, dry spot to make a home to see out the cold months. During spring, these little creatures then wake up from their hibernation and begin a march around our homes, causing havoc destroying everything from clothing to curtains and even sofa fabrics.
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Carpet beetles are usually fairly easy to spot: they look like ladybirds, but they usually have a yellow and brown striped shell. Sometimes they can be fully black when mature, and they can also be spotted as larvae – usually looking like tiny yellow caterpillars clinging to walls.
You will want to get rid of them, though. Carpet beetles are a nuisance in your home if left unchecked: they feed on carpet fibres (hence the name) but also on other fabrics and clothes throughout your home.
They can leave your clothes full of holes, and their bristly hairs can even irritate the skin if left on clothes.
They aren’t harmful to humans but they can wreak havoc on your possessions and, if left to breed, the problem can spiral.
The simplest and most effective way to get rid of them is to hoover regularly. Carpet beetles feed on debris in carpets including skin and hair and hoovering regularly will remove their food and also remove any eggs they have laid as well as larvae.
Steam cleaning can also work on other surfaces, while you can also use a vinegar mix on surfaces like shelves, worktops and windowsills which will also kill them off.
According to Pest Defence.co.uk: “Finding holes in your carpet, clothes and general upholstery in and around your home is the number one sign of carpet beetles. Although the name suggests they live within your carpet, they will also feast upon all sorts of fabric, clothing, furs, stuffed specimens – the damage is done by the larvae as opposed to the adults – as they are not fussy or scared when it comes to variety. If you have bugs in your carpet and suspect carpet beetles, your next step is knowing how to get rid of them.
“Having carpet beetles is generally just bad luck; however, if the problem persists it’s because they’re able to thrive off a dirty carpet. They will eat hair, dead insects and dead skin – so if you don’t regularly vacuum, your floor can provide the most delicious banquet for these carpet beetles.”