Should I be concerned About these black carpet beetles? - Ask Extension
Recently, with this excessive heat wave, I suddenly have dozens of Brown dermestid beetles in my house. Especially in my bedroom and kitchen where the...
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Should I be concerned About these black carpet beetles? #876688
Asked July 10, 2024, 2:14 PM EDT
Recently, with this excessive heat wave, I suddenly have dozens of Brown dermestid beetles in my house. Especially in my bedroom and kitchen where there is light at night.
In my bedroom they are all over the ceiling walls falling on me while sleeping, etc. at first I started to freak out, but then when I was outside, I realized they were flying everywhere and they were attracted to the light and we’re coming through the screen. I live on a farm outside of Selma OR. They are between 1mm and 2 mm long.
Should I be concerned that this can cause an infestation or something like that? Or is this just because of the heat wave and they’ll just go away on their own?
Josephine County Oregon
Expert Response
Hi Soleil,
I can't tell for sure from your photo, but I don't think the beetles you are finding are black carpet beetles and I can't even be sure that they are Dermestid beetles. Black carpet beetles are typically larger than 1-2mm long and look a bit different than the ones in your photo. Here is a link to a photo of a black carpet beetle for comparison...
https://bugguide.net/node/view/95165/bgimage
Before trying to figure out what to do about your beetles, it would be a good idea to get a confirmed ID.
To get an ID, you could take some of the beetles to your local county OSU Extension office or you could send some specimens to us at the OSU Plant Clinic. If you'd like to send them to the Plant Clinic, here is a link to instructions for submitting a sample....
https://bpp.oregonstate.edu/how-submit-insect-and-spider-materials
I can't tell for sure from your photo, but I don't think the beetles you are finding are black carpet beetles and I can't even be sure that they are Dermestid beetles. Black carpet beetles are typically larger than 1-2mm long and look a bit different than the ones in your photo. Here is a link to a photo of a black carpet beetle for comparison...
https://bugguide.net/node/view/95165/bgimage
Before trying to figure out what to do about your beetles, it would be a good idea to get a confirmed ID.
To get an ID, you could take some of the beetles to your local county OSU Extension office or you could send some specimens to us at the OSU Plant Clinic. If you'd like to send them to the Plant Clinic, here is a link to instructions for submitting a sample....
https://bpp.oregonstate.edu/how-submit-insect-and-spider-materials
Hello Bill,
I was mistaken about their size, I would say that they are about 3mm long. I couldn’t find my measuring tape. Based on all the photos that I’ve seen I’m fairly certain that they are dermestids, I was looking at other possibilities…I have actually quite a lot of experience identifying insects (I was good friends for almost 2 decades with a professional entomologist so I spent a lot of time looking at bugs) in the pictures I sent the beetles head isn’t visible, but when it is it looks just like the picture you provided.
Here is a close up, but I can try taking more pictures…
Really my main concern is: do I need to be worried about an infestation? Dermestids can be extremely destructive. Do you know if they tend to just go away on their own or is this something I’m gonna have to deal with?
Thanks so much for all of your help.
Best wishes,
Soleil
On Jul 17, 2024, at 12:26 AM, Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:
Hi again, Soleil,
Ok, so assuming your ID is correct, here is a link to a webpage from Penn State Extension that has great information about black carpet beetles. It also has information about getting black carpet beetle infestations under control if you think that is necessary...
https://extension.psu.edu/black-carpet-beetle
Best wishes!
Ok, so assuming your ID is correct, here is a link to a webpage from Penn State Extension that has great information about black carpet beetles. It also has information about getting black carpet beetle infestations under control if you think that is necessary...
https://extension.psu.edu/black-carpet-beetle
Best wishes!
