Two quite different insects leave similar holes in wool and rugs. A quick look at the larvae tells you which one you have, and what to do about it.
Both carpet beetle larvae and clothes moth larvae eat natural fibres, so a ragged hole in a wool rug could be either. Because the treatment differs slightly, it pays to identify them. The larvae are the clue, not the adults, and they are quite different once you know what to look for.
Gunthorpe is a riverside village on the Trent, and it is a rural setting where houses and outbuildings can be left unused for weeks at a time. Properties that are unoccupied for long spells let larvae feed undisturbed on rugs, curtains and upholstery. Damp air and cool rooms do not stop them, and boxes of linen stored in outbuildings can host either insect.
Lift the edges of rugs and carpets, and check beneath sofas, along skirting boards and inside curtain folds. Look in the loft or outbuilding for old nests, stored blankets, taxidermy or feathers. Carpet beetles can feed on insect remains in window frames and light fittings, while moths concentrate on stored clothes and wool that has been left alone.
Collect a larva on sticky tape. If it has bristles, it is a carpet beetle larva; if it is smooth and sits in a case, it is a moth larva.
Beetles can also reach the house from outdoors. Adults feed on pollen, and they come inside through windows in spring and lay eggs in hidden corners. A tidy interior with fewer fluff and hair traps gives them less to feed larvae on.
Keep a record of where you find damage, with dates. It helps a technician see whether the problem is spreading and where it began.
Vacuum thoroughly and repeatedly, then wash or freeze what can be treated. Clear out any food sources such as old nests or dead insects in light fittings. For a property that is empty for weeks at a time, store wool and linen in sealed boxes and make a point of an annual deep clean. If damage continues, a professional treatment of the affected rooms is the next step.
How long it takes depends on how widespread the insects are, and whether the property has many hidden corners.
We can identify the insect and treat the affected rooms, then advise on how to stop it returning. Free advice comes with every treatment and appointments are arranged to suit you. Call 0115 937 5117.
They can, because larvae feed undisturbed for weeks. Rugs, curtains and stored linen in unoccupied rooms are good targets, so regular checks and sealed storage help.
Identify the larvae, vacuum thoroughly, wash or freeze affected textiles and check for hidden sources. If damage keeps appearing, ask for a professional inspection so the right areas are treated.
Tell us what you have seen and where, and we will come back to you. Prices are fixed and there is no call-out charge.
