Carpet beetles come in two basic types: black and varied. Black adults are 3 to 5 mm long and have dark brown or black bodies; varied adults are 2 to 3 mm long and have black bodies with irregular white, brown, orange or yellow scales. Carpet beetles are destructive during their larval stage, feeding on a wide variety of items including carpet, felt, wool, skins, furs, stuffed animals, leather, feathers, hair, dander and insect meal. They are most active in dark and undisturbed areas. Due to their food selection, regular vacuuming is one of the best ways to keep them from infesting your home.
1. Throughout the unit, move all furniture away from the walls by about 12″ to 18″.
2. Clear the floor area of all closets so that baseboard areas can be accessed.
3. Remove everything from the lower kitchen cupboards (from the counter top down). Place these items on the counter or table. After treatment, do not wash the shelves, simply line them with new paper, either shelf-lining paper or wax paper before putting the dishes or food product back. This will provide a layer of protection between the pesticide and your dishes and/or food product.
4. After treatment, everyone must be away from the home for a minimum of 4 to 6 hours. If anyone in the home is pregnant or nursing, less than 1 year of age, or having severe allergies or respiratory problems, these people should stay away for a longer period of time, generally 24 hours.
5. In the bathroom, remove everything from under the sink. These items can be placed in the bathtub. After treatment, do not wash the shelves, line them with new paper same as above.
6. All pets must be removed from the home for a minimum of 4 to 6 hours, except birds which should be removed for 24 hours. If there are fish tanks the air filter should be unplugged and the tank covered prior to treatment.
If you need carpet beetle control in Calgary, call the professionals at Cal-Rid Pest Control.
Cal-Rid Pest Control has offered a range of residential and commercial pest control services in Calgary since 1958. We have the experience in providing effective, environmentally safe and humane solutions for rodent, bird and insect infestations. We also have products to help you prevent and get rid of pests in your home. Contact us now to claim your peace of mind!