In an Edwardian house with wool carpets and a loft full of boxes, the culprit might not be the moth you think. Identifying it properly saves time and effort.
Ask most people what eats their jumpers and they say moths. In reality carpet beetle larvae are at least as likely, and they cause damage to carpets, rugs, upholstery and stored textiles that a moth would not usually reach. Treating for moths when the real culprit is a beetle is a common reason for a problem to drag on.
West Bridgford has many Edwardian and inter-war houses, a good number with original floorboards, fitted wool carpets and generous lofts. Gaps between boards collect lint, hair and dust, which is all a carpet beetle larva needs to feed on. Older houses also have more nooks, such as chimney recesses and cupboards behind panelling, where an infestation can run unseen.
Check the edges of carpets, under sofas and beds, inside the airing cupboard and around the loft hatch. Examine pet bedding and any natural-fibre insulation, plus shelves of stored wool. Carpet beetles are known for eating things that moths ignore, such as dried food debris, feathers and the remains of insects collected in light fittings and window frames.
Pay attention to the seasons. Adult carpet beetles are often seen indoors in spring, when they fly to windows from hidden larval sites, while moths can be active whenever the house is warm. A sighting at the glass in April is a decent clue even before you find the larvae.
Remember that valuable items such as rugs, wool coats and heirlooms deserve checking first, since a slow infestation can ruin them before there is any obvious sign elsewhere.
Vacuum thoroughly and repeatedly, including under furniture and along skirting. Wash or freeze what you can, and clear out sources of food such as old nests in the roof void. Carpet beetle problems can take longer to settle than moth problems because the larvae can wander and survive for a long time between meals. How long it takes depends on how far the infestation has spread.
If you can't resolve it with cleaning, an insecticide treatment of the affected rooms is the next step, carried out with advice about what to remove and how to protect valuable textiles.
We will identify what you have and treat the right areas, with free advice on how to keep it from returning. We can visit when it suits you. Call 0115 937 5117.
Yes. Their larvae feed on wool, silk, fur, feathers, leather and even dried food debris and dead insects, so damage may turn up in upholstery, stored clothing and museum-style collections.
Larvae wander into hidden spaces and can survive long periods without feeding. They may also be feeding on sources you have not found, so locating those is part of getting rid of them.
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.
