The Black Carpet Beetle

The black carpet beetle is the most widespread and destructive carpet beetle in the united states.

The black carpet beetle.

This stored product pests common name refers to its all black coloration. The black carpet beetle attagenus unicolor is the most frequently encountered and economically impactful carpet beetle in the us. It damages household products containing keratin a principal protein found in animal hair and feathers. They are numerous during the spring and early summer months.

The larval form feeds on natural fibres damaging carpets furniture and clothing. Damage often results in a number of small unevenly spaced holes. The black carpet beetle attagenus unicolor is a 3 5 millimetre long 0 12 0 20 in beetle that can be a serious household pest. The black carpet beetle attagenus unicolor brahm is the most common and most destructive of the five important species of carpet beetles in the united states.

Many people experience an allergic reaction to carpet beetle larval hairs and blood. The larvae eat almost any type of animal product such as leather wool silk feathers hair dried meat dead insects and even dried plant material. The larvae grow to 7 mm 0 28 in in length are reddish brown in colour and covered with bristles. The black carpet beetle is a common carpet beetle in pennsylvania.