| Carpet beetles | Carpet beetles | These are small, elongate or oval beetles ranging from 1/10 to 1/3 inch long (for most species found in stored products) and varying in color and color pattern. They are most easily diagnosed as larvae which are often elongate and quite hairy or with distinctive tufts of hair, especially at the end of the body. The number of generations per year is variable. Under poor conditions, larvae of some species have been known to live for years. Adults are capable of flying, and of all the beetles that get into homes, these are the beetles most likely to fly in from outdoors. Although they are common pests of foodstuffs, carpet beetles are frequently seen as pests of animal products such as furs, woolens, feathers, and animal collections. |
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