Small and oval shaped the black carpet beetle is a black colour with brown legs and short antennae.
Black carpet beetle australia.
Similar species of moth and beetle are found worldwide.
It is the larvae of the beetle that are a common household pest.
The larvae are bigger than the adults.
Female black carpet beetles can lay up to 100 eggs and their larvae can stay in the larval stage for up to 3 years.
Black carpet beetles are found throughout australia.
The australian carpet beetle is a native member of a small but significant group of beetles family dermestidae that frequently invade homes and whose larvae feed on carpets and similar fabrics.
The larvae do all the damage the adults only eat pollen.
Australian carpet beetle anthrenocerus australis furniture carpet beetle anthrenus flavipes black carpet beetle attagenus unicolor learn more below about the different types of textile pests found in australia.
Even though it is the larvae that cause destruction you should get rid of the adults.
The larvae of the beetle are small fluffy grubs 4mm 5mm long brown with banded stripes.
Like most beetles black carpet beetles have wings and they can fly.
As they mature these bugs gradually become dark and black.
Carpet beetle larvae will eat all manner of animal material including wool fur silk felt feathers and leather.
The larvae which are the true pests of this species are typically longer in body length and are a reddish brown colour.
The grubs live for 9 months.
Carpet beetles are found throughout australia and can handle lower humidity than clothes moths so are also found inland from the coast.