Varied Carpet Beetle Information

Feeding Preferences:

• Diet: Carpets, woolen fabrics, dead insects, furs, hides, feathers, horns, hair, silk, bones.
• Growth: Takes 249-354 days to three years from egg to adult.

Habitat:

• Found in homes, attics, oriental carpets, tapestries, wood-based wall-to-wall carpeting.

Threats:

• Feed on dead insects, upholstery, carpet; can damage materials.
• Damage clothing fabric.

Prevention:

• Store clothing in plastic containers.
• Thoroughly dry clean clothing before storing for extended periods.

Mealworms

Characteristics:

• Larvae form of mealworm beetle (Tenebrio molitor).
• Four life stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult.
• Larvae: About 2.5 cm, adults: 1.25 to 1.8 cm.

Uses:

• Food source for reptiles, birds, and fishing bait.
• High protein content.
• Sold in containers with bran or oatmeal.

Reproduction:

• Prolific breeders; female lays about 500 eggs.
• Three-step mating process.
• Eggs hatch in a week, larvae emerge as mealworms.

Life Stages:

• Larvae undergo molting (10–14 times) and feed on vegetation or dead insects.
• Pupal stage lasts 3 days to 30 days.
• Pupa changes from creamy white to brown.

Sawtoothed Grain Beetle

Habits:

• Commonly found in stored grain.
• Confused with the merchant grain beetle.
• Lays eggs on foodstuffs, larvae in the top centimeter.

Treatment:

• Locate and eliminate the source.
• Dispose of heavily infested foods.
• Insecticides discouraged around food materials.

Larder Beetle

Habits:

• Larvae appear suddenly, alarming in spring.
• Attacks animal-origin products.
• Found in dry pet foods.

Description:

• Adult: Small, black beetle (6–9 mm) with a pale band.
• Larva: Brown, hairy, with two spines.

Life Cycle:

• Enters homes seeking food in May and June.
• Lays eggs in cracks, follows cluster fly infestations.
• Larvae consume food, invade homes for 2–4 weeks.

Pest Control:

• Controlling cluster flies helps reduce infestations.
• Seal openings; dispose of infested foods.
• Catch and destroy beetles; use cheese as bait.
• Control dry pet food infestations with heat or freezing.

These summaries provide insights into the characteristics, uses, reproduction, life stages, habits, and pest control measures for each insect infestation.