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Do you have black carpet beetles in your house? Schedule a service today to get and keep pests away!

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Do You Have Tiny Black Bugs in Your Carpet?

You May Need Black Carpet Beetle Control

Noticing mysterious holes in your wool sweaters, thinning spots on rugs, or shed insect skins around your baseboards? You could be dealing with a black carpet beetle infestation. These common household pests are known for damaging natural fibers. 

If you think you’ve spotted signs of carpet beetles in your home, don’t wait for the problem to grow. Plunkett’s Pest Control is here to help.

Schedule a service today!

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Black Beetle Identification: What are These Small Black Insects With Hard Shells?

The black carpet beetle (Attagenus unicolor) is the most frequently encountered carpet beetle in the U.S. These stored product pests live all over the U.S. but they’re most common east of the Rocky Mountains and in the northern states.

What Do Black Carpet Beetles Look Like? 

Black carpet beetles are small, oval insects that range in color from dark brown to shiny black. Adult beetles are typically 1/8 to 3/16 inch long and may resemble other small black bugs.

What Do Their Larvae Look Like?

Black carpet beetle larvae are ¼ inch long, brown or reddish-brown, and “carrot-shaped.” Larvae appear to have distinct body segments that taper off, becoming thinner from head to rear. A distinctive, long tuft of brown hair usually protrudes from the end of the larva’s rear. Larvae may also look as though they’re covered in spines or bristles.

Black Carpet Beetle Life Cycle

Black carpet beetles undergo a complete metamorphosis, hatching from eggs and undergoing larval, pupal, and adult stages. It takes the beetles anywhere between 2 months to 2 years to complete this cycle, depending on environmental temperature.

Black Carpet Beetle Eggs 

Female black carpet beetles lay an average of 50 eggs at a time. These eggs hatch into larvae within six to ten days. The beetles spend a majority of their lives as larvae, continuously eating and growing. Black carpet beetle larvae molt 5 to 11 times and grow up to ½  inch. After growing sufficiently, larvae pupate for 6 to 24 days. Upon emerging, adult black carpet beetles live 9 months to 3 years, depending on food availability and other environmental factors. They eat pollen and nectar.

Black Carpet Beetle Larvae Diet

Larvae commonly infest bird, rodent, and insect nests. Black carpet beetle larvae frequently consume animal and plant materials including:

• Hair
• Fur
• Feathers
• Hides
• Horns
• Carcasses
• Dead insects
• Cereal
• Stored grain
• Nuts
• Seeds
• Cayenne peppers
• Processed food (such as flour)

The Dangers of Having a Carpet Beetle Infestation in Your House

Larvae often chew small, irregular holes into natural fabrics and chew through hair on fur materials. They’re also capable of burrowing through some packaging materials to infest stored food.

The more black carpet beetles eat, the faster they can grow and molt. Upon reaching adulthood, black carpet beetles seek mates and deposit eggs in dark, secluded places near good food sources. They may lay their eggs on top of food sources like carpeting or stored food.

In addition to chewing holes in materials and laying eggs, some people may experience allergic reactions to the hairs and blood of carpet beetle larvae.

How to Prevent a Black Carpet Beetle Infestation

• Look for areas around your home that contain the remains of overwintering pests (cluster flies, boxelder bugs, mice, or even birds).
• Clean these areas thoroughly. Make sure you’re wearing appropriate safety gear when dealing with dead pests or their remains.
• If you find beetles, larvae, or frass, remove it using a vacuum cleaner. Throw out the vacuum bag when you’re finished.
• Store food (including pet food) in airtight, hard plastic containers.
• Vacuum and clean carpet and fabric regularly.
• Clean up after every meal. Don’t leave dirty dishes sitting out.
• Inspect animal products like taxidermy, wood hangings, and feather products for infestations.

Our Black Carpet Beetle Pest Control Process 

If you’ve tried the preventative steps above and you’re still seeing tiny black bugs in your carpet, it’s time to contact Plunkett’s. Our goal is simple: eliminate the current infestation and help prevent it from coming back.

When you schedule a service, a licensed technician will inspect your home and target black carpet beetle breeding sites. We’ll treat the affected areas to eliminate larvae and eggs using a combination of insecticide applications, including targeted spot, crack and crevice, and void treatments.

Our expert approach ensures we don’t just treat the symptoms. We address the source. Let Plunkett’s Pest Control help you take back your space from stored product pests for good.

How to Get Rid of Black Carpet Beetles: Schedule a Service with Plunkett’s

At Plunkett’s, our goal is to help you quickly, conveniently, and in the most cost-effective way. We make every effort to be with you as soon as possible, usually within 1-2 days.

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Frequently Asked Questions:

Why are there small black bugs in my carpet?

Why are there small black bugs in my carpet? If you’re seeing small black bugs crawling on your carpet or near baseboards, you could be dealing with black carpet beetles. These pests are attracted to natural fibers found in rugs, upholstery, and clothing. Their larvae feed on materials like wool, silk, feathers, and even pet hair or dead insects.

How do black carpet beetles get in the house?

Black carpet beetles often fly in from outdoor environments or enter through cracks around windows, doors, or vents. They’re attracted to light and may be drawn indoors by bright window areas or reflective surfaces. Infestations often begin unnoticed in storage spaces or closets containing natural fabrics. For more information on keeping pests out of your home, check out our Fall Invaders Program.

What are the signs of a black carpet beetle infestation?

Common signs of a black carpet beetle infestation include shed larval skins in carpet or corners, damaged fabric or holes in natural fiber materials, and tiny black or brown beetles crawling near windows, walls, or baseboards.

What bugs look like black carpet beetles?

Carpet beetles can be confused with bed bugs, fleas, and other pantry pests like meal moths. If you’re unsure which pest is causing the problem, use our Bug ID Help page for a quick identification.

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