The Varied Carpet Beetle Beetles in My House – The Varied Carpet Beetle (Anthrenus verbasci) is a relatively new pest to the north of the U.K. having been largely restricted to the south but now pest control companies in Manchester, Lancashire, Cheshire are increasingly being called out to deal with this insect pest.
A.Verbasci is a very distinctive, easily identified beetle that can be a serious pest in the home. It feeds on natural fibres and can damage anything of natural origin, i.e. woolen carpets, fabrics and natural fibre clothing.
The larval form is called a woolly bear, a common name it shares with the larvae of Pyrrharctia isabella or the Isabella Tiger moth.
The Varied Carpet Beetle was the first insect to be identified to have a circadian and an annual cycle and to this date remains a classic example of circannual cycles in insect species.
The larval form of A. verbasci are circa 4-5 mm in length. The body is covered in a pattern of alternating stripes. The body is usually wider at the rear than at the front end and also bears three pairs of hair tufts along its rear abdomen that are used for defending itself
The adult carpet beetle range in size from 1.7 to 3.5 mm in length. Their dorsal surface has scales of two colours, off .white and yellowish-brown. White scales are concentrated along the lateral margins of the pronotum. In addition, their antennae have eleven segments with a three segmented club.
A Verbasci or The Varied Carpet Beetle has a very unusual life cycle for an insect, developing from larvae to adult in 1-3 years, according to environmental conditions.
Larvae hatch from eggs in the spring, very often they are associated with birds nests or around stored natural fabrics Larvae feed on natural fibres throughout their development, eventually experiencing a dormancy or diapause before completing pupation and emerging as an adult. Varied Carpet Beetle adults emerge between April and early August, and feed on pollen.
These pests cause both physical damage by their larvae devouring natural and psychological upset from the enormous numbers of these pests which can emerge into houses.
When attempting to deal with these pests it is important to lookout for the presence of birds nests and remove any nests and feathers etc. from the infested before treating with an insecticide.
It is important to keep in mind that in Britain legislation affects the harming of birds nests, including starlings and house sparrows which are the two most common birds which are connected with A.verbasci so professional help should be sought to avoid falling foul of the law.
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