carpet beetles :(

[ilovespinach]

So, it seems we have what I think are carpet beetles (boak). It started when I got something out of a washing basket that hadn't been disturbed for a long while. I saw discarded skins and then when I looked at the bottom, a few little brown crawling bugs:( we're not a dirty household....just the usual fire fighting to keep on top of washing and mess of 5 people.

So, I've been through wardrobes and drawers. Sometimes I find the discarded skins and maybe a few crawlies other times not.

I've washed all bedding kept under the kids bed and its now stored in zip lock bags as are the spare clothes under the bed. I've hovered thourally. Bizarrely I can see nothing on carpets/ rugs only clothing.

If I see any more in the areas I've cleaned then I will wash everything :( I'm also going to have a look today to see if there's anything I can hang around to discourage them. I hope it will be enough. My worry is the up coming spring weather and that loads will then appear.

I could really cry. My dreams are full of brown crawling things......

Please tell me we're not the only ones to have this problem.

No, not the only ones . If they are carpet beetles then the larvae should be furry/hairy (I think a colloquial name for them is wooly bears (which sounds much cuter than they are).

We have had an issue with vile, vile, vile mealworms which are smooth and cast stripy papery skins. the beetles are dark brown. We had them because of a serious crumb and smeary foody fingermark problem, cheers ds1 & 2, and vigorous, regular hoovering, accompanied by spraying skirtings with red can Raid got rid of them.

It makes my skin crawl.

Holds hands with sleepyhead.....yes, I can't find any adults just the cases and bloody woolly bears. I'm constantly itchy just thinking about it :( will buy some chemicals to spray around the place today.....

That's my whole week of cleaning now ahead. Did you manage to get rid of your mealworms?

Yes. They just scavenge for crumbs so removing their food source is the best way to get rid.

I haven't seen one for a few months. The spray (active ingredient is permethrin) leaves a (safe to humans) residue which kills on contact for a good while, hopefully long enough to disrupt the life cycle.

Now moths, that's another thing. I've stopped buying nice woollens after too many holey jumpers and dresses.

Good :)

I think our problem is that we leave clothes lying around and that has attracted them. Hopefully I can bring some order by the end of the week, there is just so much washing always though.......

Hope I can get rid of them by the end of the week. Then I'll have to keep checking all of the dark undisturbed places....

I read that the woolly bears come from old birds nests. We don't have any of those, but have ivy up the front wall, which the sparrows like to roost in.

We cut the ivy down on the front wall, and cleared away as much of the old debris as possible, and now cut it back every spring, so there is only new stuff and not too much bird debris.

This also means we are not awakened at 3.30am in the summer with their 'singing' through the bathroom extractor vent.