Are Carpet Beetles Harmful to Humans?
Carpet beetles are annoying little pests. They aren't poisonous nor do they carry any disease-causing germs. But the question still arises — are carpet beetles harmful? The answer is a definite YES! Despite their non-toxic nature, they can still pose harm to you and your home in several ways. Here are some of the ways they can be hazardous.
Damaging Household Items
Carpet beetles live outdoors, but prefer to live indoors to avoid the harsh weather outside. And once they're inside your home, they will eat away at literally anything that's available.
Carpet beetle larvae are even more dangerous than adult carpet beetles. The larvae feed upon a wide range of household items with fabric being on top. They mostly eat animal-based materials including:
- Silk and Wool
- Carpets and Blankets
- Leather and Fur
- Upholstered furniture
- Animal hair and natural cotton
- Pure clothing items and beddings
- Lint, food crumbs, and dead insects
Where Do Carpet Beetles Live?
Carpet beetles live in dark and shady places like cracks, crevices, cupboards, drawers, and attics. There they feed upon dead insects, insect nests, rodents, and more. Adult carpet beetles aren't so much problematic as they feed upon pollen and nectar. However, larvae feed upon pure fabric, so adults lay eggs in places like inside carpet fur, blankets, or closets storing clothing where they will have access to food sources.
Carpet beetle larvae won't eat synthetic clothing, but oil stains, perspiration, or food particles on synthetic fibers may invite them. So your stained tablecloths, kitchen covers, or unwashed clothing items are at risk.
Spreading Infection
Carpet beetles do not bite people, but long-term exposure to them can cause carpet beetle dermatitis. This is a medical condition with symptoms like itching, pruritic rashes, and papulovesicular rashes. These bumpy rashes cause severe irritation. They are also sometimes mistaken as bed bug bites, but it's actually an allergic reaction towards the blood and hairs of carpet beetle larvae.
As carpet beetle larvae usually hide in carpets, blankets, clothes, and upholstered furniture, they can come in contact with human skin quite easily. Prolonged contact with larvae's hair fibers can result in carpet beetle dermatitis. Some people also suffer from eye irritation and respiratory tract irritation caused by airborne fibers of carpet beetles.
Eating Human Hairs
Another shocking eating habit of carpet beetles is that they like to gnaw on human hair. Sometimes while chasing down hairs, they will crawl into bed with people while they are sleeping. Due to the scent of essential oils people may have applied to their hair, carpet beetles will nibble on their hair.
Pantry Pests
Adult carpet beetles are also pantry pests. They will crawl or fly to get into your pantry items, lay eggs which hatch into larvae, and feed upon pantry items like seeds, milled products, pet food, and food crumbs.
Taking Action
Pests in your home is never a good thing. The moment you spot a carpet beetle infestation, take immediate measures to protect your home and loved ones. Contact Rest Easy Pest Control at 888-927-9842 to help you eradicate this nasty pest as soon as possible.