Short answer: carpet beetle and clothes moth larvae eat wool. They feed in dark, undisturbed spots, so damage shows up under furniture, along skirting boards and at the back of wardrobes. Thorough vacuuming and cleaning removes larvae and eggs; a pest controller is needed for an established infestation.
The culprits
Both insects are common in Australian homes, and Adelaide’s warm climate lets them stay active for much of the year.
- Carpet beetles. The adults are small, round and harmless. The larvae, sometimes called woolly bears, are a few millimetres long, brown and bristly, and do the eating.
- Clothes moths. Small, pale and reluctant to fly. Their larvae are creamy white and may leave silky webbing or cases.
Both eat wool, silk, fur and feathers. They ignore synthetic carpet unless it is heavily soiled.
Signs to look for
- Bare or thinned patches in wool carpet, usually at the edges
- Loose tufts that vacuum up too easily
- Shed larval skins that look like tiny brown husks
- Small beetles on windowsills in spring
- Damage on the underside of wool rugs
Check under beds, behind couches, beneath heavy furniture and inside wardrobes.
What to do
- Vacuum thoroughly, including edges, under furniture and inside wardrobes. Use the crevice tool along skirting boards.
- Empty the vacuum outside straight away.
- Lift and vacuum both sides of rugs, and the floor underneath.
- Wash or dry-clean affected clothing and blankets.
- Have wool carpets and rugs professionally cleaned. Hot water extraction removes larvae, eggs and the soil they are attracted to.
- Call a licensed pest controller if you find live larvae in several rooms. Cleaning removes them; it does not stop new ones arriving.
Prevention
- Move furniture and vacuum underneath every few weeks
- Do not store wool items dirty
- Keep flyscreens in good repair; adult beetles fly in from gardens
- Clean wool rugs every 12 to 18 months
Bare patches can often be repaired with a matching piece. See carpet repair.
More on wool in caring for wool carpet. For cleaning, see rug cleaning and carpet cleaning.
FAQs
Do carpet beetles eat synthetic carpet?
Rarely. They feed on natural fibres such as wool, and on food and hair trapped in dirty carpet.
Does steam cleaning kill carpet beetles?
It removes larvae and eggs from the areas cleaned. An established infestation also needs pest treatment.
Why is the damage only under the furniture?
The larvae avoid light and disturbance, so they feed where it is dark and rarely vacuumed.
