Different Types Of Carpet & Fabric Pests
Even in the most well-maintained homes, Clothes Moths and Silverfish, the fabric pests, can be found. These pests can be very destructive and may require special methods to eradicate them from your home or business. These pests eat items that are commonly found in the home.
Carpet moths and carpet beetles seek out a protein called Keratin, which is found in animal-derived fibres like wool. Silverfish will eat plant-derived substances like starch, cellulose, and cotton.
These pests are often hidden in your drawers or cupboards and can cause serious damage to common household items. Understanding their habits and how to get rid of them is important.
Clothes Moths
5 Facts About Carpet Moths
- Carpet moths are small, winged insects that can cause damage to natural fibres in carpets, rugs, clothing, and other household items.
- The adult moths do not eat or cause damage. It’s the larvae that cause the damage.
- Carpet moths are most active during the year’s warmer months and typically lay their eggs in the dark, undisturbed areas, such as closets or under furniture.
- Carpet moth larvae can survive on various natural fibres, including wool, silk, cashmere, and other animal-based materials.
- Carpet moths can be controlled and prevented by regularly vacuuming and cleaning, using mothballs or pheromone traps, and storing items made of natural fibres in airtight containers.
First, it is important to distinguish the Clothes Moth from the common flying House Moth. Another big difference is that clothes moths do not attract light and tend to avoid areas with bright lights. Clothes moths measure approximately.
Clothes moths are small (approx. 1 cm) and buff/straw in colour. They have 6 legs. However, the larvae do most of the damage. The larvae will only eat the eggs of the adult moths, so they will lay eggs on any materials that can provide adequate food.
The larvae reach the pupate stage (preadult), and their presence can be seen on walls or in the material they are feeding on. Depending on the type of clothes moth, the life span of an adult clothes moth is very limited.
The presence of damaged material, cast larval skins, and sand-like droppings are all signs of clothes moth activity. Clothing moths eat animal products. This includes woollen, feathers and upholstered furniture. They also consume milk powders, leather, and dried hair. They also eat lint and dust, paper, and oil-soiled materials.
They can eat a mixture of natural and synthetic fibres but cannot eat only synthetic fibres. They are attracted to dirty fabrics and carpeting sprayed with liquids or human sweat.
Silverfish
5 Facts About Silverfish
- Silverfish are small, wingless insects commonly found in homes, particularly in damp or humid areas.
- They have a distinctive silver or grey, fish-like appearance and are typically about 1/2 to 1 inch long.
- Silverfish feed on various materials, including paper, glue, and other starchy substances, which can cause damage to books, wallpaper, and other household items.
- Silverfish are most active at night and are generally harmless to humans, although they can be a nuisance.
- Silverfish can be controlled through insecticides, proper ventilation and moisture control, and by reducing clutter in the home that can provide hiding places for the insects.
The silverfish is another common household “fabric bug”. Silverfish, a nocturnal creature rarely seen during daylight hours, can cause serious damage to homes due to their high-protein diet of sugar, starch, and starch.
Three long appendages that protrude from their abdomens at the rear can be easily identified as silverfish. Their appearance is fish-like with a tapered body measuring approximately 2cm long and dull, silvery colour.
Silverfish lay eggs in darkened places or small crevices. The eggs hatch after 2-8 weeks. The resulting nymph is a miniature of an adult silverfish. Silverfish can cause harm to their homes by eating cereals, moist flour, paper with glue (such as book bindings or wallpaper), starch in clothing, and rayon fabrics.
Silverfish also consume sugar, coffee, hair, and common items like photos, sugar, coffee, and even dandruff. Silverfish can survive for up to a year without food and will attack leatherware and synthetic fabrics in times of hunger.
Silverfish can cause damage to paper and books by eating on the surface. Although they don’t have strong jaws, they tend to scrape the surface away until it breaks through. This is evident by a book cover that looks almost lace-like.
Silverfish are constantly looking for water, so they can often be found trapped in bathtubs or sinks. You can find silverfish activity around bookcases and closet shelves, behind skirting boards, and in door and window frames. Small pelletized frass, which looks like mouse droppings, will be left behind by silverfish. This may be found under or on surfaces.
Silverfish can be introduced into homes in Australia by bringing in infected papers, books, and cardboard boxes.
Read More About The Silverfish
Carpet Beetle
5 Facts About The Carpet Beetle
- Carpet beetles are small, winged insects that are commonly found in homes and can cause damage to natural fibres such as wool, silk, and other animal-based materials.
- Adult carpet beetles have a round or oval-shaped body and can be black, brown, or multi-coloured, depending on the species.
- The larvae of carpet beetles are the stage that causes damage to fabrics and other household items. They are small, worm-like insects that can be up to 1/4 inch long.
- Carpet beetles are attracted to natural fibres, pet hair, feathers, and other animal-based materials.
- Carpet beetles can be controlled by regular vacuuming and cleaning, using insecticides and pheromone traps, and storing items made of natural fibres in airtight containers. Additionally, it is important to eliminate any potential food sources for the beetles, such as dead insects, pollen and other debris found in attics and crawl spaces.
Carpet beetles are one of the more obscure “fabric” pests that can be found in homes. Although they are not as noticeable as other pests and can do damage, carpet beetles should be eradicated if they are present.
Although many species of carpet beetles are found in Western Australia, their biology and damage are very similar. The adult carpet beetles are about 3-4mm long, dark grey in colour, and have four distinct wavy lines across their oval-shaped bodies.
The adult carpet beetle eats pollen and lives outdoors but will come inside to lay its eggs in dark areas where there is plenty of food for the larvae. The larvae are reddish-brown in colour with bristles all over their body. It is very active.
This larva is responsible for the destruction of our homes. It has a natural habitat in darkness and can be found in dark cracks and crevices behind doors, under carpets, and skirting boards.
Carpet beetles can cause damage to items that have natural fibre components, such as soft furnishings, woollen goods and silk.
After the larvae of carpet beetles have eaten, they become immobile pupae for 2 – 3 weeks before becoming an adult. Carpet beetles become adults when they are exposed to light. Their natural habitat is outside, where they eat pollen from flowers. The carpet beetle does not cause any further damage at this stage.
Carpet beetles can be found in your home when the pupa becomes an adult. You may find hairless, bare skins in or around the abovementioned areas. Dead adults might also be found near window sills, where they tried unsuccessfully to get outside to feed on the flowers.
They are safe for domestic pets as well as humans. They can be brought into homes as passengers on cut flowers. Adult beetles may also live in bird nests, attempting to fly into homes to lay their eggs.
Read More About Carpet Beetles
Conclusion
To treat a carpet infestation in your house, you must first vacuum the entire area. Pay special attention to areas around furniture and dark corners. Next, apply special residual pesticides to eliminate the existing beetles and prevent future infestations.
While they are not directly harmful to humans, fabric pests can be a nuisance in Australian homes and should be eradicated. Knowing the best pest control and treatment is key to this. To do this, it is important to identify the pest.
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