Carpet beetle doesn’t usually bite animals and humans; it gnaws the products and damages them. Additionally, the black-colored carpet beetle, like many insects, can easily carry bacteria, resulting in infections. When you are going through some kind of itching on the skin of yours, you are most likely dealing with another bug (bed bugs) or perhaps some kind of hypersensitivity on the larvae. But there is no bite.
In this article, we are going to discuss what the carpet beetle bites look like, how they are able to damage you (or the stuff) of yours as well as how you can eliminate these unwelcome intruders.
What do carpet beetle bites look like?
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It is important to know that the carpet beetles do not represent a great risk to humans (at least not directly), this is because they do not usually attack first, since they are totally harmless; and to attack, normally this does not usually go beyond a pain that can be mild or acute depending on the beetle itself.
However, there are some species of beetles that can be dangerous to humans. These species are the following:
- Stag beetle.
- Blister beetle.
- Bombardier beetle.
The blister beetle is a real risk because it secretes a liquid when it feels threatened; This can be very dangerous, as it is very similar to acid and can cause skin burns. Although it does not usually bite humans, it is common for this beetle to secrete this toxin when it feels threatened.
On the other hand, the blister beetle is not dangerous as such. However, the side effect that its bite generates is a real headache, and this is mainly due to the fact that it generates blisters throughout the affected area. This happens because the blister beetle also generates a toxin when biting, which affects humans.
Finally, the stag beetle does not generate any toxin, but it does have powerful jaws (or claws) that can exert great force when this insect decides to bite. This is why their bite is so painful but not dangerous.
It is important to mention that carpet beetles don’t bite, but this can change in case the affected person is allergic to any of the toxins secreted by carpet beetle larvae.
The easiest way to detect a carpet beetle bite allergy is by paying attention to the symptoms, such as swelling, itching, dizziness, etc. In case these symptoms appear, you should go to a hospital as soon as possible, as there is a risk of getting worse or even dying.
What happens if a carpet beetle bites you?
These pests do not bite humans. However, they could cause an itchy, bumpy, rash which might be mistaken for the bed bug bites. This’s because of extended exposure to the locks fibers on the body of mats beetle larvae. And airborne fibers from floor covering beetles also can result in the respiratory tract as well as eye irritation. Nevertheless, it may take years for nearly all individuals to be sensitized to these fibers.
Do carpet beetles live in beds?
While the larvae of theirs can and also will feed about the garments in and also around the bed of yours, they don’t generally live in your bed as bed bugs; and folks will usually mistake floor covering beetles plus bed bugs.
Do carpet beetles make you itch?
In most cases, carpet beetles cause harm to the house at the larvae phase, but they could cause allergies for many humans. Symptoms vary but generally, an individual with an allergy to floor covering beetles will experience itchiness and redness.
How Do you Treat Carpet Beetles?
The carpet beetle (or Antherenus scrophulariae) is an insect covered in very fine, colorful scales that is no larger than half a centimeter. Its popular name comes from its tendency to enter homes in times of scarce vegetation to spoil carpets and different fabrics such as clothing, its main source of food. Getting rid of these insects is not easy and requires a lot of patience. From here, we are going to give you 4 steps to get rid of them without calling a professional exterminator.
Identify the problem and the focus of the infestation.
Once the problem is located, now it is time to find the cause. These types of beetles tend to grow alongside the fabric they feed on. Hence rugs and carpets are their main “home.” This increases in dark areas such as under furniture, in closets, or objects made of leather. Remember always to inspect quiet locations like air ducts, basements, and attics.
Treat the problem inside.
Vacuum the entire house regularly, emphasizing the focus of the infestation. Initially, you have to do it at least once a day. This behavior will increase and decrease depending on the severity of the pest.
Throw away infested clothing. When your carpet has already started to eat, it greatly increases the difficulty of stopping the pest. This part is very important if you don’t want to see yourself in this situation again after a while. You should also wash all the clothes in hot water even if they have not been infected and isolate the clothes you will not use until the next season. Plastic bags are a good option.
Putting traps like glue in the cracks, in addition to killing the insect, allows us to probe the severity of the infestation. Also, it is necessary to apply insecticide throughout the house, making greater use in the affected areas. There are specific insecticides for the carpet beetle and, also, some specialized in carpets and rugs. If you are concerned that it may be toxic to your health or that of your family, boric acid is a good solution to kill insects that enter your home, and the only downside is the bleaching effect that makes it not recommended for dark furniture.
Solutions outside
Apply an insecticidal treatment from outside the home by spraying it as a barrier from about a meter away. Remember to treat entry points such as windows, doors, pipes, or vents.
Remove all kinds of nests around your house or garden. These beetles use the nests to lay eggs and increase the risk of infestation. Remember to be careful when you could be attacked by bees or birds that inhabit them.
The follow-up
Once you’ve laminated your out-of-season garments, open your drawers and closet doors for the sun (they tend to scatter from sun exposure), wash all your rugs, and apply mothballs to deter carpet beetles.
Do not forget to close the accesses to your home that you have not treated and may cause the plague and inspect the flowers before bringing them home as they are also a very common form of infiltration.
How to Deal with Carpet Beetle Bites Naturally
Generally, it is not recommended to self-medicate to treat a carpet beetle bite, as the best solution is to go to a health center to be treated as the case requires. Now, it is important to know that there are some basic remedies that can be used to combat the symptoms of a bite.
Antiallergics: These are very useful to reduce symptoms such as irritation and itching, so it is recommended to use them in these situations.
Hydrocortisone: It is one of the most used creams to treat bites, as it is used to combat symptoms such as irritation, itching, and inflammation.
Ice: When placed on the affected area, the ice will be responsible for deflating the area.
Water: This should be used to wash the area, helping prevent the bite from becoming infected.
