Varied carpet beetles - advice needed.

loripo · #1 (**permalink**) 02-02-2010, 02:36 PM

I found one 'woolly bear' in the loo some weeks ago. No carpet in the loo but we do have communal air shafts (for which the architect should be hanged, drawn and quartered) and I only previously found one beetle (in the kitchen) but now see that I have had a few on a window ledge (all dead ones about 1-2mm long)

Please confirm that is what they are and tell me if any of the other threads on tese has suggestions about how to evict them!

Dogghound · #2 (**permalink**) 02-02-2010, 02:49 PM

The top photo shows Anthrenus verbasci on the left as does the bottom photo, the beetle on the top right is something different can you get a better photo of this?

loripo · #3 (**permalink**) 02-02-2010, 03:02 PM

Sorry - have put them in the rubbish bin now! I thought that looked different, I do get ladybirds around the flat, could it be a dried out ladybird? The ones inside the double glazing which will have to stay put till it's not so windy, are a sort of pale yellow by now.

Dogghound · #4 (**permalink**) 02-02-2010, 06:55 PM

It looks very much like one of the smaller species of ladybird, however hard to say and is seems very worn, most of these smaller species are covered in dense hair which this lacks. Without seeing the head and other close details would be hard to say. Also the location means it could have been imported with shopping, wood, plants, on clothes etc from another area. Ive looked at a variety of specimens and it doesnt quite fit these.

I will continue to look but impossible to key.

Regarding your problem its best to have a good clean around the house. Hoover under radiators, window ledges, under furniture etc. They often feed on hair, fur, skin, wool etc. Check for birds nests, wasps nest in the loft etc and remove dead insects, larvae like to feed on these. Unless you have a large infestation I would not worry, most if not all houses have them.

loripo · #5 (**permalink**) 02-02-2010, 07:07 PM

Thanks - I'm in a flat and the parts that the pigeons used to nest in have now been closed off to pigeons at least, but what else is in there I don't want to think about! I will have a good look at the top of the curtains where I found them, and have a spring clean. I am tidy but hate hoovering

I'll get some sticky traps too and see if that catches any. All my carpets and curtains are natural fibres as I thought that was healthier, but the bugs like 'em too it seems. I am always surprised by what finds =its way in here as I'm about 70FT up.

Dogghound · #6 (**permalink**) 02-02-2010, 07:12 PM

Sounds like a perfect location for carpet beetles im afraid

. Those old nests and the natural carpets will hugely benifit this species. It is important you regularly hoover if you want to get rid of them. Good luck.

Jason Green · #7 (**permalink**) 02-02-2010, 11:17 PM

Hi Lori,

Sorry, what Dan said for the CB! What I'm more interested in is the beetle to the right, in the first image. I think I'll suggest something along the lines of Nephus or Scymnus leaning to the former, they tend to have similar yellow markings. All conjecture though, as Dan says you'd need a closer image. They are 'atypical' ladybirds, as they don't have the immediately-noticable look of the more common species, well that's my understanding of it!

Take care,

Jason

Dogghound · #8 (**permalink**) 03-02-2010, 05:54 PM

Yes thats what I was thinking Jason, Scymnus frontalis looked possible, but this specimen is brown and relatively bare (no hair). It could be faded and worn and the distance makes ID very hard here. Would have been interesting. None of these small ladybirds are considered domestic (pests) species so nothing to worry about.

loripo · #9 (**permalink**) 03-02-2010, 06:29 PM

Pity I didn't see the ladybird whilst still alive. I looked up the species you mentioned and that looks right from what I recollect. I did have a ferret thru the bin, but I hadn't wrapped them just emptied the dustpan, so no luck.
I've started on a Spring clean, but looking up more info - the adults were probably trying to get out, seeing the light, so the larvae (if any) are lurking elsewhere. Am going to dunk my laundry basket in the bath just in case! They can even lurk in dried flowers - don't have any of those. I don't have fitted carpet, so easier to go round the edges and check. Air ducts were mentioned, and behind radiators - but it's not possible to get behind ours, I can open up the undersides tho, so that's tomorrow's job.