Over the past few weeks I have noticed little (about half the size of a ladybug) bugs throughout my house. I seem to find about 1 per day and they are almost always on the wall, close to the floor. From the google research I've done, they appear to be carpet beetles? I am totally grossed out, but at the same time refuse to use any sort of pesticide inside the house. Just wondering if anyone else is seeing these or has successfully treated them in the past?
Thanks Mamas!
I looked up some stuff but it looks like only pesticides work. They are nasty little creatures.
Maybe you can call Terminix and ask them if they have something that is "safer" for kids.
Now you got me itching all over!!! :-)
Good luck, and if you find anything that is safe for kids and pets, please post a follow up for us.
Thanks,
~B
Well Emily,
I don't have any experience with carpet beetles, but I do know the bug people can come out and spray and bomb the inside of your house. They will probably have you stay out of the house for 4 hours or so and after that it is safe. I would recommend you vaccuum afterwards. I know everybody wants to be so careful with their children and pesticides and harsh chemicals, but sometimes there's no way around it. A little exposure here and there will not be enough to turn them into mutants or anything. I would do what you have to do to get rid of them. The diseases bugs can carry and the waste they leave behind can be much more harmful to your kids that a little bit of pesticide. Good luck! I feel for you, girl!
Emily,
I did a little Internet surfing and found this website: http://www.pestproducts.com/cedarcide.htm
It's 100% natural from cedar and juniper oils. Not sure how well it works.
Good luck!
Oh my goodness! I am suffering from the same exact thing! Luckly I have hard wood floors and area rugs. I have been unsuccessful in my attempts to rid myself of them, and have vacuumed daily. Now I think I have no choice but to toss out the area rugs.
I am so grossed out and every time I find one, I feel itchy all night long, thinking they are all over me while I sleep.
Thank you for posting this message.
Wait before you bomb the inside of your house, try using some other things. The residue from those chemicals will be in your home for a long time. I have these too and they tend to show up about this time of year near walls and windowsills. Last year my husband got diatomaceous earth and it worked great. This is a white odorless powder that is fossilized diatoms or algae from the ocean. It feels soft to us, but is very sharp and will eliminate these bugs from your areas. We sprinkled in it the closet corners and window sills and runners and you can put it in any spots they are showing up. You should google it to read more about it, but you can buy it at the hardware store. You do need to apply it yearly. I also vacuum a lot when I see those and just get them before they move about your house. I haven't had any problems. I would try that first than live with toxic chemicals in my house. Bombing your home will do more harm to it than a few of these small bugs will. Good luck!
A friend recently told me about this problem in one room of her home. They tried to bug bomb them, but some of the bugs still lived. She called an exterminator who said the only way to get them completely dead is to have the room sprayed professionally. Problem is now gone. Be sure you vacuum a lot (throw the bag outside the house afterwards), as I hear the bugs feast on skin that is shed from pets and people in the house. Check to see if you have wool clothing or wool rugs in your house that are infested. The bugs will eat holes in wool, particularly if it is not perfectly clean.
I had carpet beetles in my old apartment, not anymore. I would find them often. Just don't look up the larvae that would even more disgust you. They also can come on clothes. If you have any furniture or clothes that you have not gotten brand new, they could have come with that. Wash the clothes also!. They hide under the dustboards. Try vinegar and lemon.
I had a close friend deal with this problem and she was told there was no other way to fix this other than exterminating. Reason being because the pest can last up to a year with out eating. They lay thousands of eggs as well which also live for quite some time. You may be able to fix the problem yourself but as soon as u think it's over the new eggs start hatching and the cycle begins. I'd suggest calling an exterminator. I know u may not be comfortable with that idea but if you don't do it soon the pest just start multiplying and the problem gets worse. Good luck with what u decide to do!
is that what they are?! i've been noticing the same thing for about the last ten days, but on the curtains (hardwood floors), and one on the bed- yuck! the only non pesticide bug trick i know is to mix a little dish soap and tobacco with water in a spray bottle, but i've only ever used it outside on my roses. please let me know if you find out about something that works inside!
They are probably carpet beetles, they are seasonal, so they will go away, just vacuum a lot. No need for pesticides!
Susie
They live on dead hair and skin. I had to deal with this before I moved in with my boyfriend 6 years ago. They ate throught $1K of his suits and good clothing. I cleaned out every inch of his house before I moved in. GROSS!! bachelorhood house. OMG!!! I took qtips to all the tracks of the closet doors. 2 months later I finally moved in. I also found an indoor pest spray at home depot that I sprayed the closets and baseboards with and that did the trick. 5 years later we are married and the carpet beetles have never returned since. Good luck! It was a huge project getting rid of them.
SAHM, 40yrs old with 2 wonderful funny little boys. 3 yrs and 9 months already walking.
We had new carpet installed fairly recently and discovered these funny brown beetles that had a small pin head and a brown stripe. The exterminator took it to the Dept of Ag who identified it as "Alfalfa Weavel". Another simply called it a carpet beetle. Whatever the name, we finally had the exterminator do the job because these things could actually fly onto the bedding..... GROSS. I even found one crawling on my daughter's arm.
I too struggled with whether or not to use pesticides but I agree with the woman who said a little exposure won't turn your baby into a mutant (no second head has grown on my daughter as of yet but I will keep you updated if one does sprout up),
My advise- get it sprayed. You will have more peace of mind, the babies won't decide they are tasty as put them in their mouths and make sure to ask for the information sheet on the pesticides they use so you can Google what the stuff is before signing on the dotted line.
We use Sheldon at Orkin and he has been great when it comes to answering all my questions.
Dawn.
I am amazed at all the people that went with exterminating! My exterminator was just here (we use 007 Pest Control) and he said - get rid of the source and you get rid of the problem. The source? Dust and dead skin. So, clean away ladies!! Clean up any spots that you dont normally do, like under beds, behind dressers, any places your pets (like dogs or cats) may like to lay around.
I wish there were more information on this a year ago as that is when I became infested with these little black beetle type bugs.
It wasn't until much later, when I discovered the larvae, that I began to learn what it was - and even then there was not much information available.
Now, more than a year later there seems to be a ton of information.
While I began with a chemical bug killer I could only spray areas I could block away from the cats. I wanted something more natural and non-toxic for both the cats and my health.
It wasn't until I began my search for how to kill the ants that had found their way into my houseplants that I learned about vinegar as a natural bug killer. It is not just for cleaning anymore. (It also kills plants and vegetation, which is good for unwanted grass and weeds but be careful around plants you want to keep.) Vinegar is also good for removing stains, smells as well as you can take 2 tbls a day to help with digestion and weight loss . . . . but that is another subject.
back to carpet beetles . . .
I am learning about the diatomaceous earth, vinegar, baking soda, and TTO as ways to naturally kill these unwanted pests.
Vacuum daily if possible and you should have good results.
I agree with those who suggest to not use those excessive chemical treatments. We are so quick to grab a can of chemical yet wonder why the foods we eat are not the same and the air we breathe are becoming toxic. There are times when the chemical may be the only solution but begin with the natural. There's a reason Mom (or Grandma) always had vinegar in the house. It's not just for pickling the food for preservation. And while vinegar may not be the only solution, I have found it to be a solution in many situations.
I'm looking to my ancestors for help while keeping my head in the present situations. We can never regain the nature we have lost but we can improve the future by helping to stay as natural as possible now.
Good luck -
oh, I have also learned that the itching and, what looks like bug bites, may come from an alergic reaction to the little hair-like follicles that cover the larvae. This was a relief as I could not find anything that was biting me.
Here are a couple of websites that were helpful:
http://community.babycenter.com/post/a9328325/childpet_safe_carpet_beetle_killer
http://www.ridpest.com.au/carpet.html
happy fighting the fight naturally - and winning in more ways than one.
Natural but practical