Carpet Beetles

There are only two main types of Carpet beetles, the Black and the Variegated.

Female adults lay eggs in dark, undisturbed areas.
Eggs hatch into reddish-brown larvae. Each larva is covered with tufted hairs.
It is the larvae that cause the damage.
Once fully fed the larvae change into an immobile pupal state, then after several weeks into adults.

Adults do not cause further damage, but they often re-infest homes when they are brought in on cut flowers.
Carpet Beetles like to live in woollen materials, felt, fur, upholstery, stuffed animals as well as carpets.
Infestations usually occur in undisturbed areas, such as below items of heavy furniture, or the perimeter of carpets.
It is possible for them to damage synthetic carpets, especially if the carpet is heavily soiled with food debris or urine.
Carpet Beetle do not carry disease organisms harmful to man or animal, but are pests because of the damage inflicted on materials in homes.

Thorough vacuuming of infected areas followed by the application of a residual insecticide spray will usually control carpet beetles.
Many synthetic and woollen carpets are now treated with insecticides as the time of manufacture to make them resistant to carpet beetle attack.