The varied carpet beetle anthrenus verbasci is a 3 mm long beetle belonging to the family dermestidae they are a common species often considered a pest of domestic houses and particularly natural history museums where the larvae may damage natural fibers and can damage carpets furniture clothing and insect collections.
Identification carpet beetle nz.
Carpet beetle larvae will eat all manner of animal material including wool fur silk felt feathers and leather.
Carpet beetles often confused with bed bugs are small pests that can cause a large amount of damage if left untreated attracted to natural fibers carpet beetles can damage carpets furniture and clothing.
The black carpet beetle the australian carpet beetle the common carpet beetle the varied carpet beetle shown the furniture carpet beetle and a close cousin the fur beetle have all been introduced to new zealand and are frequently found devouring the woollens and carpets of new zealand homes.
Adult beetles are 2 3 mm varied and 3 5 mm long black and resemble ladybirds in shape.
Verbasci was also the first insect to be shown to have an.
The most common carpet beetles in new zealand are the varied carpet beetle anthrenus verbasci and the black carpet beetle attagenus unicolor.
Carpet beetles can be an annoyance in your home.
Carpet beetles are found throughout new zealand and can handle lower humidity than clothes moths so are also found inland from the coast.
The actual number of new zealand beetle species is likely to be between 6 000 and 10 000.
The adult carpet beetle is dark brown to oily black in colour and 3mm to 5mm in length.
Check the traps 1 2 times a week.
Here s what you need to know.
They may eat through your clothes rugs and furniture.
Hormone or pheromone based traps are specific to the kind of carpet beetle species you have.
The larvae do all the damage the adults only eat pollen.
You can also use sticky traps without a hormone to catch beetles particularly ones flying through the windows.
Carpet beetles will also feed off the felt under furniture and lamps and inside musical instrument cases.
They can also sometimes cause an allergic reaction.
You can buy traps from pest control or pesticide supply stores or online.
Info landcareresearch co nz 64 3 321 9999 po box 69040 lincoln new zealand.