Carpet and Hide Beetles

Dermestids, the family of insects that includes carpet and hide beetles, are some of the most common pests in the United States. Capable of extensive damage, these household pests usually merit a call to pest control, but knowledge of their habits and how they get into the home can also help to prevent a runaway infestation.

Dermestids feed on a wide range of different foods, most of which are fibrous or fuzz-like in nature. In the home, their diet consists mainly of leather, furs, feathers, woolen or silken rugs and textiles, dead insects, dead animal flesh, stored food products, shed hair, and occasionally cotton or linen. They will not, however, consume synthetic materials such as plastics unless these are contaminated by urine, food stains, or perspiration.

The four most common dermestids in Utah homes are the Trogoderma simplex, larder beetle, varied carpet beetle, and black carpet beetle. These are usually able to enter homes through open doors and windows, by hitchhiking on freshly cut flowers, or in infested food products.

Finding a few dermestids in your home may not be a sign of infestation, as the beetles are relatively common in outdoor environments, where they feed on pollen, nectar, and decaying organic material. If large numbers of the beetles are found, however, homeowners are encouraged to call a professional pest control company to help limit the damage they may cause.