The carpet beetle is your wardrobe’s worst enemy. These nasty bugs have an appetite for natural fibres and can damage fabrics, furnishings (carpets, rugs, curtains, lounges) and clothing that contain cotton, wool, silk, fur and feathers. Synthetic items are resistant to attack, but blends of synthetic and natural fibres can be damaged. They are also known to devour chocolate and cocoa beans. Most damage is done by the larval stage of the beetle, while adults feed on flowers and shrubs.
Their natural habitats are the nests of birds, rodents, insects, and spiders. Adult beetles are pollen feeders and can be found in large numbers in flowers. They can be inadvertently brought into the house in cut flowers and laundry, and are capable of flight.
The adult beetle is a rounded insect about 4mm long, dark grey with distinct wavy white bands across the body. Indoors, adults are attracted to light and are often found on window sills. The larvae are roughly 4–5mm in length, elongate and covered in hairs, with dense stiff bristles extending from the rear.
The larvae avoid light and actively feed in dark places like ceiling voids, crevices and folds, and can be found in wardrobes or within upholstered furniture. The larvae develop through a series of moults and as they shed their skins the empty, hairy skin castings can be seen as a sign of infestation.