When it comes to uninvited guests in your home, carpet beetle larvae rank high on the list. These tiny pests can cause significant damage to your belongings, especially those made of natural fibers. Understanding how to identify carpet beetle larvae and eliminate them can be the crucial difference between protecting your money and paying for damage repair.

What Are Carpet Beetle Larvae?

Carpet beetle larvae are the immature form of carpet beetles (in other words, they’re carpet beetle ‘babies’ before they become ‘teenaged’ pupae). They’re small, oval-shaped insects that like to feed on household items.

While adult carpet beetles typically feed on pollen and nectar, their larvae have a much more destructive appetite – they’re notorious culprits for feeding on various natural materials, including wool, silk, leather, and even pet hair. That’s why carpet beetle larvae’s feeding behavior can significantly damage your carpets, clothing, upholstery, and other household items.

Larvae are typically brownish-red or dark brown and covered with tiny bristles or hairs. Depending on the species, they may also have distinct patterns of light and dark stripes, and while they may be small, they certainly wreak extensive havoc, often ranging in size from about 1/8 inch to 1/4 inch long.

If you’re finding yourself dealing with adult beetles, not larvae, you’ll want to check out our general article on how to get rid of beetles in your home.

How to Identify Carpet Beetle Larvae In Your Home

Identifying carpet beetle larvae is the first step in dealing with an infestation. So if you’re wondering, “What do carpet beetle larvae look like?” or “Carpet beetle larvae size,” here are some answers:

Shape and Size

Carpet beetle larvae are usually elongated and slightly tapered at one end. They are small, measuring between 1/8 inch to 1/4 inch in length, making them easy to miss if you’re not paying close attention

Color and Texture

These larvae are typically a brownish-red or dark brown color, often with a striped appearance. Their bodies are covered in tiny bristles, giving them a fuzzy look. The bristles can cause skin irritation if you handle the larvae without protection

Molted Skins

As carpet beetle larvae grow, they molt several times, shedding their outer skins. These tiny, shed skins are often found near the larvae’s feeding areas, such as in closets, along baseboards, or in the folds of fabric

Damage

The most telling sign of a carpet beetle larvae infestation is the damage they leave behind. Look for irregular fabric holes, bald spots on rugs, or damage to clothing stored in dark, undisturbed areas. They tend to feed in hidden, out-of-sight places, so it’s important to check areas like closets, under furniture, and in stored boxes.

Where Do Carpet Beetle Larvae Come From?

Carpet beetle larvae often enter homes through open windows, doors, or wall cracks. Adult beetles are attracted to light and can easily enter your home, searching for food sources for their larvae.

Once inside, they lay their eggs in areas where food is abundant—in this case, your furniture is the food source.

The larvae are commonly found in areas where they can feed undisturbed, such as:

Under Furniture: Dark, hidden areas under sofas, beds, and other furniture pieces provide the perfect environment for larvae to thrive
In Closets: Clothing, particularly those made from wool or silk, is a prime target for larvae
Along Baseboards and Carpet Edges: Larvae can often be found feeding along the edges of carpets or behind baseboards, where they can chew on fibers undisturbed.

How to Get Rid of Carpet Beetle Larvae

Eliminating carpet beetle larvae in your home requires a combination of thorough cleaning, targeted treatments, and preventive measures, such as:

Deep Cleaning

Start by thoroughly cleaning your home, paying special attention to areas where larvae are most likely to hide. Vacuum carpets, rugs, and upholstery to remove larvae, eggs, and molted skins. Be sure to vacuum along baseboards, under furniture, and inside closets.

After vacuuming, immediately dispose of the vacuum bag or contents to prevent any larvae from re-infesting your home.

Laundering Affected Fabrics

Carpet beetle larvae love room temperature settings so hot or cold treatment is a great way to eliminate them – especially if your infestation is in a concentrated area like clothes or a rug.

Wash infested clothing, linens, and other fabrics in hot water (at least 120 degrees Fahrenheit or higher) or take them to a dry cleaner. The heat will kill any larvae or eggs present. For items that cannot be washed, place them in a plastic bag and freeze for at least two weeks (at 18 degrees Fahrenheit).

Using Insecticides

For areas where larvae are heavily concentrated, consider using an insecticide specifically labeled for carpet beetles. Apply the insecticide to cracks, crevices, and other areas where larvae are likely to hide.

Please make sure to always follow the manufacturer’s instructions and take precautions to keep children and pets away from treated areas

Using Boric Acid

Boric acid is a natural insecticide that is shown to be effective against carpet beetle larvae.

Sprinkle it lightly on carpets, rugs, and in cracks and crevices where larvae may be hiding, then after a few hours, vacuum the treated areas to remove the boric acid along with any dead larvae

Using Diatomaceous Earth

Another natural option is diatomaceous earth, a fine powder made from fossilized algae. It kills carpet beetles by dehydrating them. Apply diatomaceous earth to infested areas, leave it for a few days, and then vacuum it up.

Monitoring Your Home

After treating your home, it’s important to monitor for any signs of a recurring infestation. To catch lingering beetles, place sticky traps in areas where you suspect larvae activity.

Preventing Future Infestations

Preventive measures are crucial to keeping carpet beetle larvae from returning. Vacuum your home regularly, especially in dark, undisturbed areas.

Store clothing in airtight containers, and consider using mothballs or cedar chips in closets and storage areas. Inspect any second-hand furniture or fabrics before bringing them into your home to ensure they are pest-free.

When to Call a Professional

If you’ve tried some of these DIY methods and still find yourself battling a carpet beetle larvae infestation, it might be time to call in the professionals. Our licensed pest control experts can provide more advanced treatments, such as fumigation or heat treatments, to completely eradicate the infestation.

Carpet beetles can be particularly challenging to eliminate because they can hide in tiny crevices and survive on various food sources. Our team has the knowledge, tools, and experience to identify the extent of the infestation and apply the most effective treatments.

Eliminate Carpet Beetle Larvae – For Good!

While there is a wide range of different beetle species in North Carolina, carpet beetles (and their larvae) are some of the more destructive. Their larvae may be small, but their ability to damage your home and belongings is anything but minor.

By learning how to identify these pests and following a comprehensive plan to eliminate them, you can protect your home from some serious, costly damage.

If the problem persists, don’t hesitate to contact our beetle experts to keep your home safe from larvae and enjoy full peace of mind knowing your furniture is safe. Contact Bug Out today for professional, friendly pest elimination!