Before you buy any product, find out which insect you have. The shed skins in the bottom of a drawer say far more than the holes in the jumper.
Clothes moth larvae and carpet beetle larvae both eat natural fibres, so the holes look much the same. But the two insects live differently. Moths spin webbing and tubes and tend to stay in a clothing store. Carpet beetles wander widely, feeding on carpet edges, upholstery, dead insects, pet hair and even dried food. If you treat for the wrong one, the damage carries on.
Look closely at what is left behind. Carpet beetle larvae are small, carrot-shaped, bristly and brown or tan, and they shed their skins as they grow. These cast skins, light and spiky, collect in drawers, along skirting boards and in the bottom of wardrobes. Moth larvae are creamy and smooth with a darker head, and they leave silky tubes, frass the colour of the fabric and patchy damage.
Adult carpet beetles are only a few millimetres across. Some are mottled with white, brown and orange scales, others black. They fly towards light, so a window ledge in spring is where you might spot them.
Thorney Wood, or Thorneywood, lies east of the city centre close to Sneinton, with Victorian terraces and later housing. The mixture means different risks within a short walk. An older terrace may have bare boards, gaps under the stairs and chimney spaces where birds sometimes nest, which is a known source of beetle larvae. A later house, with fitted carpets throughout, gives larvae a long run of wool along the edges.
If you inherited a house or took in old furniture, check rolled rugs and the backs of upholstered chairs, which can hide larvae for months.
Vacuum thoroughly, wash or dry-clean what you can and check for nests in the loft or eaves. If there are signs of continued damage, a technician can confirm the insect and treat the right areas. A free pest prevention survey comes with the treatment, and how many visits are needed depends on how far the problem has spread.
Pet owners should look at dog and cat beds, since pet hair and skin flakes are a food source for carpet beetle larvae. Wash bedding regularly and vacuum the areas around it. Likewise, dead insects collecting in window frames, light fittings and loft corners feed beetles, so a quick sweep each season removes the supply.
Call 0115 937 5117 and we will arrange a visit at a time that suits you.
Moth traps catch adult clothes moths, so a catch confirms moths. An empty trap does not rule out carpet beetles, which do not respond to the same lures, so check for cast skins as well.
Yes. They like similar conditions, and a house with one may have the other. A proper inspection looks for both and treats according to what is found.
Tell us what you have seen and where, and we will come back to you. Prices are fixed and there is no call-out charge.
