Varied Carpet Beetle: Step Aside Pest Management

THE VARIED CARPET BEETLE Presented by Tim O’Neill August 21, 2012

Description• The larvae are 3/16” - 1/4” inch long and wider at the end of the body than at the end of the head.• Adult varied carpet beetles = 1/16” - 1/8” long• It’s wing covers meet at the rear end of the body in a smooth rounded fashion with no apparent cleft.• The back of these insects are spotted with gray-yellow,brown,and white scales which form two bands across the top.• The underside of the body is gray to yellow.

Biology• Females lay about 40 eggs in a lifetime; eggs hatch in 10 to 20 days.• Larvae develop in 222-323 days and remain as a pupae for 10 - 13 days.• One generation per year.• Adult beetles live 14 - 44 days.• Complete metamorphosis

Habits• The larvae feed on a wide variety of foods, including carpets, woolens, skins, furs, stuffed animals, leather bindings on books, feathers, silk, and plant products, (corn, and red pepper).• The favorite larval food, however, is dried insects or spiders, and, these insects are terrible pests in dried insect collections.• Adults feed on pollen, are good ﬂiers, and enter homes through open windows.

Control• The initial step in carpet beetle control is the correct identification of the pest, followed by a thorough inspection by a Pest Management Professional. The PMP will identify and eliminate the sources of the infestation.• The customer should be questioned about past pest problems, birds, flies and other insects, rodents, etc. and the sites of these infestations closely examined.• All products containing natural materials should be examined, paying particular attention to stored clothing, carpets, and food products• Sanitation, including removal and/or treatment of infested material, is the first step in remediating the problem.

Application• The exterior of the structure should be inspected for plants that attract the adult beetles and should be removed or treated with an appropriately labeled product.• During warmer months, perimeter foundation treatment with a wettable powder or micro encapsulated formulation reduces the number of beetles entering the structure• Application of a residual insecticide to cracks and crevices and immediate area around an infestation site with an appropriately labeled product might be necessary• In cases where the infestation is associated with a wall void or other inaccessible space, a dust formulation which provides better residual activity should be used.

Q&A• Adult varied carpet beetles are: A)1/16”-1/2” B)1/16”-1/2” C)1/16”-3/4”• Larvae are: A)3/16”-1/4” B)1/16”-1/8” C)1/16”-1/2”• Varied carpet beetles have: Complete or incomplete metamorphous• The favorite food of larvae: A)carpets B)leather shoes C)dried insects and spiders• In her lifetime, the female varied carpet beetle lays: A)20eggs B)30eggs C)40eggs• The initial step in carpet beetle control is: A)Removing all clothes from closets B)clean carpets C)correctly identifying the pest• The exterior of a home with a varied carpet beetle infestation should be treated with: A) Masterline B) Termidor SC C) Cykick CS• Dust applications should be applied to what area of an infested home: A)ﬁsh tank pumps B)inside dryers C)wall voids• “Can’t buy me love” was a top single by what music group? A) The Scorpions, B) The Beatles, C) The Varied Carpet Beatles

Varied Carpet Beetle: Step Aside Pest Management

by timthecaveman on Aug 21, 2012

Accessibility

Categories

Upload Details

Usage Rights

Statistics

Varied Carpet Beetle: Step Aside Pest Management Presentation Transcript