This publication is no longer circulated. It is preserved here for archival purposes. Current information is at https://extension.umd.edu/hgic HG 80 1992 Fabric Pests Carpet beetles and clothes moths are the most common pests of The varied carpet beetle adult is small (2-3 mm), oval to round, fabrics. Adult carpet beetles and clothes moths do not damage with splotches of white, yellow, and black on its back. To the fabrics. They feed outdoors on pollen or not at all. It is the larva naked eye, it appears to have a gray calico pattern. The larva is or immature stage of these insects that causes damage to fabrics, tear-drop shaped and is covered with rows of light brown hairs. fur, feathers or virtually anything made of animal fibers. The adults fly and some are attracted to lights and windows, so they The varied carpet beetle larva is primarily a scavenger. It often may be more conspicuous in homes than the larvae. The adult goes unnoticed behind furniture or along baseboards where it female lays eggs in woolen goods, cracks and other concealed feeds on such things as accumulated lint, pet hair, food crumbs, places. dead insects and other organic debris. Carpet Beetles Thei black carpet beetle adult is larger, a solid dark brown or dull black color, and more elongate oval than the varied carpet hbeetle. The black carpet beetle larva is 3-7 mm long and car-rot shavped. It is covered with golden brown hairs and has a characteristic ?tail? of long hairs at the rear end.c Clothes Moths Carpet beetle r Immature carpet beetles feed on dried animal products like wool, felt, hair, fur, feathers, dead anAimals, stuffed trophy heads, etc. They do not feed on clean synthetic or man-made fabrics but they can be found feeding in wool-synthetic blends or on synthetic fabrics stained with urine or sweat. Carpet beetle larvae are repelled by light and tend to burrow deep down into wool, upholstery, or other materials to feed. Clothes moth larva Carpet beetle larvae can crawl from place to place but are usu- Clothes moths are usually not as common in homes in Maryland ally found in concealed locations along baseboards, under large as are carpet beetles. Frequently people mistake the more com- pieces of furniture, or in little-used drawers or storage areas. mon grain or flour infesting moths for clothes moths. These larvae are oval to cigar-shaped and densely covered with yellow-orange or light-brown hairs. To grow they molt or shed The primary food of clothes moths larvae is soiled woolens. their skins. In heavy infestations, these light-colored shed skins They cannot complete development on clean wool since they may be seen in the infested material. require certain vitamins present only in stained or soiled fabrics. There are several different types of carpet beetles that may be Both the casemaking and the webbing clothes moths occur in found in homes, but the two most common in this area are the Maryland. The adults of both are tiny (1/2 inch wingspan), yel- varied carpet beetle and the black carpet beetle. lowish, with narrow wings fringed with long hairs. The larvae are small, white caterpillars with brown heads. They feed on the 1 For more information on this and other topics visit the University of Maryland Extension website at www.extension.umd.edu surface of the material infested. The casemaking clothes moth individuals. Avoid the use of moth balls or flakes made of larva is rarely seen, however, since it constructs a cylindrical case paradichlorobenzene, or PDB. Paradichlorobenzene is more of fabric which it carries around to hide and feed in. The color toxic than naphthalene and has been implicated as a human of the threads in the larva?s case will help to locate the infested carcinogen (cancer causing agent). material. The webbing clothes moth larva does not live inside Clean susceptible areas in your home often to prevent lint and a case but instead spins silk tubes over the feeding surface and hair from accumulating. Give close attention to: woolen rugs and often hides and feeds in these attached tubes. carpets, wool wall hangings and tapestries, upholstered furniture with wool, hair, or down stuffing, closets, particularly those in which woolens or furs are kept, surfaces behind radiators Casemaking and heavy furniture, corners, cracks, baseboards, moldings, moth larva and other hard-to-reach areas. The vacuum cleaner is your best tool for most of this cleaning. After using it, dispose of the bag contents promptly; they may include eggs, larvae, or adult insects. In addition to cleaning woolen rugs and carpets frequently, it is advisable to rotate them occasionally. If the infestation is extensive, chemical spot treatment may be necessary. Use an insecticide registered for this purpose. Ap- ply the insecticide along cracks and crevices, in corners, along baseboards, and moldings, in closets (with clothes removed), and along carpet edgdes. FOLLOW LABEL DIRECTIONS CAREFULLY. Do not use insecticides on clothing or furniture. Furniture ande other furnishings may be protected with other ready-to-use pressurized insecticides recommended for this purpose. nsecticides that are not labeled may damage carpet-Webbing ing orv fabrics.moth Adiapted from:Carpet Beetles & Clothes Moths, Entomology Leaflet # 80, by Sandra Craft, Department of Entomology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742 (1981).Control hReferences:The most effective control measure is prevention. Clcean, Olkowski, W., S. Daar, and H. Olkowski. 1991. Common-Sense Pest Control. Newtown, CT: The Taunton Press. 715pp. properly stored woolens are not attractive to fabric pests. Dry cleaning alone will kill all stages of clothes moths and carpet beetles, but gives no protection against reinfestation. Hand USE INSECTICIDES WITH CARE. READ THE LABEL DIRECTIONS. washing with a mild soap for woolens should also kill the in- FOLLOW ALL SAFETY PRECAUTIONS. sects. Woolen articles should be cleaned and stored in sealed boxes. Cedar chests, blocks, or closets also provide protection. The clothes must be cleaned before storing Ain the cedar as well. Old clothes, blankets, furs, etc. no longer in use and stored for http://extension.umd.edu/hgiclong periods of time may harbor infestations of carpet beetles, clothes moths, or both. They should be periodically inspected and protected or removed. Moth balls or flakes should be used as a last resort and only in sealed containers. Use only moth balls or flakes containing naphthalene. Naphthalene works as a fumigant to kill the insects. It is not effective as a repellant. Naphthalene vapors can produce toxic reactions in sensitive Author: Mary Kay Malinoski, University of Maryland Extension Specialist, Home and Garden Information Center This publication is a series of publications of the University of Maryland Extension and The Home and Garden Information Center. For more information on related publications and programs, http://extension.umd.edu/hgic. Please visit http://extension.umd.edu/ to find out more about Extension programs in Maryland. Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, University of Maryland, College Park, and local governments. Cheng-i Wei, Director of University of Maryland Exten- sion. The University of Maryland is equal opportunity. The University?s policies, programs, and activities are in conformance with pertinent Federal and State laws and regulations on nondiscrimination regarding race, color, religion, age, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, marital or parental status, or disability. Inquiries regarding compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended; Title IX of the Educational Amendments; Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; and the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990; or related legal requirements should be directed to the Director of Human Resources Management, Office of the Dean, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Symons Hall, College Park, MD 20742. For more information on this and other topics visit the Univers2ity of Maryland Extension website at http://extension.umd.edu