The Black Carpet Beetle

The larval form feeds on natural fibres damaging carpets furniture and clothing.

The black carpet beetle. The larvae eat almost any type of animal product such as leather wool silk feathers hair dried meat dead insects and even dried plant material. Many people experience an allergic reaction to carpet beetle larval hairs and blood. The black carpet beetle attagenus unicolor is the most frequently encountered and economically impactful carpet beetle in the us. The black carpet beetle attagenus unicolor brahm is the most common and most destructive of the five important species of carpet beetles in the united states.

The larvae grow to 7 mm 0 28 in in length are reddish brown in colour and covered with bristles. The black carpet beetle attagenus unicolor is a 3 5 millimetre long 0 12 0 20 in beetle that can be a serious household pest. Larval stage is destructive to fabrics and plant materials. The black carpet beetle is the most widespread and destructive carpet beetle in the united states.

They are numerous during the spring and early summer months. The black carpet beetle is a common carpet beetle in pennsylvania. The black carpet beetle in the arid southwest the black carpet beetle is particularly problematic as a pantry pest and they disperse throughout homes rapidly where they feed on a variety of items. The black carpet beetle is a pest in kitchen cupboards as well as in woolen carpets or clothes storage areas.