HEALTHY, WEALTHY & WISE
JULY 2018
Published exclusively for clients of DNA Pro Cleaning & Restoration
In This Issue
Carpet Beetles... What are
the facts?
A Celebration of
independence
They save lives, but... know
what happens when an
airbag deploys
Stay safe using free Wi-Fi
Recipe: BBQ Beef Brisket
Sandwiches
Client Testimonials
Moneywise
Carpet Beetles
What are the facts?
July is
National
Grilling
Month
Carpet beetles deserve to rank near the top
of your list of uninvited guests. These oval-
shaped flying insects can ruin your carpets,
rugs, upholstered furniture, and clothing
as well as cause irritating dermatitis in
children and sensitive adults. These are
unwelcome guests you really want to “show
the door” as quickly as possible.
Life Cycle of a Carpet Beetle
The four life-stages of carpet beetles are
egg, larvae, pupae, and adult. Female
carpet beetles lay up to a hundred eggs,
which hatch into larvae in approximately
35 days. This stage is the most damaging
because larvae feed on carpets and
clothing. The larval stage lasts 6 to 18
months, during which these voracious
insects do the most damage. The final part
of the larval stage is metamorphosis, after
which the adult beetle emerges. Adult
carpet beetles can live up to a year.
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Identifying Carpet Beetles
The larvae are very small, so it can be
difficult to spot them. Larvae look like tiny,
hairy worms and prefer dark, undisturbed
areas such as under furniture, rugs and in
closets. Adult black carpet beetles are black
with brown-colored legs, and their length in
inches ranges from 1/8 to 3/16.
As larvae, these pests shed skin and fecal
pellets, each of which can cause allergic
reactions in some people. Carpet beetles
do not bite people or animals. The irritation
caused by contact with carpet beetle larvae
can be confused with bites from bed bugs
or fleas.
Property damage from carpet beetles
is very similar to moth damage. Small,
irregular-shaped holes in clothes and rugs
are a telltale sign of either a carpet beetle
or moth problem. If it is a moth problem,
you will usually see moths in the area. Adult
carpet beetles prefer to live outdoors and
graze on pollen.
Fighting back
Maintaining cleanliness may not be enough
to avoid an infestation from carpet beetles.
Since these pests can enter on food
packages, luggage and on shoes, they are
difficult to avoid—especially if you have a
pet, as larvae feed on animal fur and dander.
Along with vacuuming, professional carpet,
rug and upholstery cleaning are essential.
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