Do Carpet Beetles Bite?

Quick answer: Adult carpet beetles do not bite people. The itchy red bumps blamed on them usually come from contact with the tiny hairs of their larvae, which can irritate skin, or from other pests such as bed bugs or fleas.

Carpet beetles are tiny, round beetles that sneak into homes and nibble on wool, fur, feathers and other animal-based materials. Lots of people wonder if they bite. The short answer is no: carpet beetles do not bite people, but their hairy larvae can still cause itchy rashes.

Carpet beetles Quick Facts

Common name	Carpet beetles
Scientific name	Dermestidae
Kingdom	Animalia
Phylum	Arthropoda
Class	Insecta
Order	Coleoptera
Type	Insect (beetle)
Diet	Larvae eat wool, fur, feathers, silk and dead insects; adults eat pollen and nectar
Habitat	Homes, museums, bird nests and stored products
Native range	Worldwide
Size	About 2-5 mm (larder beetles up to about 10 mm)
Special feature	Larval hairs can cause itchy skin rashes

So why do people get itchy?

The culprit is the larva, not the adult beetle. Carpet beetle larvae are covered in stiff bristles, and some of these hairs are shaped like tiny arrowheads. When the hairs rub against skin, or when shed hairs and skins collect in bedding, some people react to them.

Doctors call this carpet beetle dermatitis. It usually shows up as small, red, itchy bumps or welts that look a lot like insect bites, which is why people blame the beetles for biting. Since at least the 1940s, doctors have written reports linking these rashes to carpet beetle larvae.

Not everyone reacts. People who are around the hairs again and again are the most likely to become sensitive. In rare cases, the hairs can also irritate the eyes, nose or airways. If a rash is bad or does not go away, it is a good idea to see a doctor, because many other things can cause similar bumps.

Meet the carpet beetle family

Carpet beetles belong to the family Dermestidae, sometimes called skin beetles. Four groups (genera) of this family are the ones most often found indoors.

Anthrenus: the varied carpet beetle

The carpet beetles in the genus Anthrenus are small, rounded and only about 2 to 3.5 mm long. Their backs are covered with tiny colored scales. The most common one, the varied carpet beetle (Anthrenus verbasci), has a patchy pattern of white, brown and yellowish scales. Its larva is fuzzy and brown, with tufts of special spear-tipped hairs near the tail that it can flare out when disturbed.

Attagenus: the black carpet beetle

The black carpet beetle (Attagenus unicolor) is a little bigger, about 3 to 5 mm long, and shiny black or dark brown. Its larva is easy to recognize: it is shaped like a skinny carrot, golden to dark brown, with a long tuft of hairs sticking out of its tail end.

Dermestes: larder and hide beetles

Beetles in the genus Dermestes are larger, usually 7 to 10 mm long. The best known is the larder beetle (Dermestes lardarius). It is dark, with a wide pale yellowish band across the front half of its wing covers, and that band has several small black spots. Its larvae are hairy and brown, with two little curved spines on the tail end. They prefer meat, cheese and dried animal products more than carpets.

Trogoderma: cabinet and warehouse beetles

Trogoderma beetles are small (about 2 to 5 mm) and oval, with mottled patterns of brown, reddish and pale hairs. The larger cabinet beetle (Trogoderma inclusum) and the warehouse beetle are common in stored foods. Their larvae are bristly, with both short arrow-shaped hairs and longer hairs near the tail.

Life cycle

Carpet beetles go through complete metamorphosis, with four stages: egg, larva, pupa and adult. Females lay their eggs in hidden places close to food, such as cracks, the edges of rugs, or inside closets.

The larvae do almost all the eating. They molt (shed their skin) many times as they grow, and the number of molts can change depending on how much food there is and how warm it is. Their empty skins are often the first sign of a problem. Depending on the species and conditions, the whole life cycle can take from a couple of months to a year or more.

What do carpet beetles eat?

Carpet beetle larvae eat keratin, a tough protein found in hair, wool, fur, feathers and silk. They also eat dead insects, lint, pet hair and, for some species, dry foods such as cereal, flour, pet food and spices. Museums have to watch out for them, because they can damage insect collections, stuffed animals and old wool clothing.

Adult carpet beetles are very different. Many feed on pollen and nectar from flowers outdoors. They can fly, and in spring and summer they often come indoors through open windows or on cut flowers, then lay eggs inside. Bird nests, wasp nests and dead insects in attics or wall spaces are also common hiding places for larvae.

How to get rid of carpet beetles safely

The most important step is to find where the larvae are feeding. Look in dark, undisturbed spots: under furniture, along baseboards, in closets, in stored wool or fur, and around pet food. Then try these steps:

• Vacuum often, especially along edges of carpets, under furniture and inside closets. Empty the vacuum outside afterward.
• Wash or dry-clean clothes, blankets and rugs that might be infested. Hot water and a hot dryer kill larvae and eggs.
• Freeze small items, like a wool hat or stuffed toy, in a sealed bag for about a week.
• Store clothing in sealed containers or zip bags, and only store items that are clean.
• Remove old nests and dead insects from attics, windowsills and light fittings.
• Use window screens and check cut flowers before bringing them inside.

Chemical sprays are rarely needed in homes and should only be used by an adult following the label exactly, kept well away from children and pets. Mothballs are toxic and are not a safe choice around children or pets. For a large or stubborn problem, a professional pest controller can help.

Related: Moth

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