We just heard from a reader who fears she is witnessing the onset of a carpet beetle infestation. She explained that for the past couple of days she has noticed tiny brown bugs on the walls and ceilings of her basement. She said she doesn’t know the source, but it might be some cardboard storage boxes and cloths that are in her basement.

She attached several photos (of great quality!) of the specimens, and we can confirm that these are carpet beetle larvae. The larval stage is the most destructive stage of the carpet beetle. The larvae feed on dust, animal hair, fibers, and other various materials around a household. They are often known to damage upholstered furniture and linens. Here are the photos our reader provided:

Getting rid of carpet beetle and their larvae can be quite a daunting task, and some prefer to hire a professional. However, if our reader decides to tackle this problem alone, we can offer some guidance.

She should begin by attempting to find the source of the infestation and removing it from her house. Next, she will need to vacuum all the carpeting in her home. She should continue to vacuum at the very least once a day for the next week, and might also want to vacuum the couches or other upholstered furniture items. If the infestation is particularly bad, she might consider removing the carpet or having it professionally cleaned.

She should discard infested clothing and linens, however if something is of high personal value she could have it professionally dry-cleaned rather than thrown out. All fabrics in the infested area should be washed in a machine with hot, soapy water. Once clean, they should be stored when not being used in an airtight container to prevent future infestations.

There are some sprays and traps that our reader can consider if she wants to follow a treatment plan that includes chemicals. If this is the case, she can discuss these at a local homeowner’s store.

To conclude, we heard from a reader who is experiencing a carpet beetle invasion. We hope she finds our advice helpful and can get rid of these pests!

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