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Attagenus unicolor (Black Carpet Beetle), Anthrenus verbasci (Varied Carpet Beetle)
Complete metamorphosis: egg → larva → pupa → adult. Females lay 30-100 eggs in dark areas near food sources. Larvae develop over 9-36 months depending on temperature and food availability. Larvae molt 5-11 times before pupating. Adults live 2-6 weeks and do not feed. Entire lifecycle takes 10 months to 2 years.
Larvae feed exclusively on protein-based natural fibers and materials. Primary foods: wool, silk, leather, fur, feathers, felt, lint, pet hair, dead insects. Also consume pollen, nectar, and plant materials. Adults feed on pollen and nectar from flowers, especially white and light-colored blooms. Larvae can survive months without food if humidity is adequate.
Larvae seek dark, undisturbed areas with natural fiber food sources. Common nesting sites: closets, dresser drawers, under furniture, in heat registers, along baseboards, in attics, within upholstered furniture. Prefer areas with lint, pet hair, and fabric accumulation. Adults enter homes in spring attracted to light, then lay eggs in suitable larval habitats.
Larvae eat large irregular patches in carpets, clothing, and upholstery. Unlike clothes moths (which make tiny precise holes), carpet beetle damage shows larger eaten areas with frayed edges.
Small oval beetles (2-5mm) found on windowsills, especially in spring. Adults are attracted to light and try to exit homes through windows.
Brown, bristly shed skins left behind as larvae molt. Found in closets, under furniture, and along baseboards. These are hollow exoskeletons.
Carrot-shaped, hairy larvae (4-9mm) found in carpets, closets, or stored woolens. Look for them in dark, undisturbed areas with natural fibers.
Tiny pellets the size of salt grains found near damaged fabrics. Pellets are the same color as the material being consumed.
Areas where pile has been eaten away, especially along edges, under furniture, and in closets. May appear as worn spots.
Common throughout Canada as indoor pests. Black carpet beetle (Attagenus unicolor) is most prevalent in Western Canada, especially Alberta and British Columbia. Varied carpet beetle (Anthrenus verbasci) more common in Eastern provinces. Both species thrive indoors year-round but adults emerge and are most visible in spring and early summer.
Larvae active year-round indoors, causing damage in all seasons. Adults emerge in spring (April-June) and are attracted to windows and light fixtures. Peak adult activity coincides with outdoor flowering plants. Indoor populations do not follow strict seasonal patterns as they thrive in stable indoor temperatures.
Treatment focuses on eliminating larvae in hidden areas where vacuuming cannot reach. Targeted applications to baseboards, carpet edges, closets, and furniture bases combined with thorough cleaning and sanitation provide effective control. Heat treatment is effective for infested furniture and stored items.
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