Insect of the Month: Black Carpet Beetle (Attagenus unicolor)
Black Carpet Beetles are commonly found in processed foods such as, spices, biscuits, meal, four, seeds, and dog food, but can also attack horn, untreated hides, wool, hair, silk, and dead insects. The black carpet beetle is a common household pest.
Only larvae cause damage to plant or animal products or textiles. The presence of cast skins is usually apparent. Holes and frayed fibers in textiles also may be present.
What do black carpets look like?
Black Carpet Beetle Adults: Up to 4 mm (3/16 inches) long, dark brown to black. The last three antennal segments are slightly enlarged and form a sphere shape.
Black Carpet Beetle Eggs: Females lay 50-90 small, white eggs which hatch in 6-10 days. Eggs are deposited in concealed areas near larval food supply.
Black Carpet Beetle Larvae: Dark brown to reddish brown, up to 13mm (0.5") long, slender, hairy, with a distinct tail of long hairs at tip; three pairs of thoracic legs.
Black Carpet Beetle Pupae: Pupal cases are brownish with dark beetles inside the pupal chamber.
What is the black carpet beetle life cycle?
The female black carpet beetle will lay eggs in almost any dry organic substance. Larvae will feed off the food or fiber substance for about 9-20 months depending on the environment. The life cycle on average will be 11 months. Adults live for 30-60 days. One generation occurs per year depending on storage conditions.
Solutions for Monitoring Black Carpet Beetle
The set of Bullet Lures™ (IL-134) features the Insect Limited’s signature pheromone Bullet Lures™ that attract Black Carpet Beetles with a controlled release of pheromone over 3 months. Black Carpet Beetles are attracted to the lure and are readily stuck in the glue for monitoring purposes when paired with a sticky trap, trapping system.
The Black Carpet Beetle Flat Trap Kit (IL-130) includes Flat Traps™ and pheromone lures for the Black Carpet Beetle, Attagenus unicolor.
This All Beetle AA Carpet Beetle Kit includes 10 complete All Beetle traps, 10 dermestid attractant lures, 10 pheromone Bullet Lures™ for Varied Carpet Beetles (Anthrenus verbasci), and Black Carpet Beetle, (Attagenus unicolor), as well as a glue board specifically designed to fit the All Beetle trap removable tray.
Monitoring Guidelines for Black Carpet Beetle (Attagenus unicolor)
Click on the image or insect name above to view monitoring guidelines for black carpet beetles. These guideline include details on Description, Lifecycle, Damage and Detection, Corresponding Products, Fun Facts, and more!
Stay tuned
Next week we are going to be sharing a solution Insects Limited offers when dealing with black carpet beetles.
Related Insect and Pheromone Posts
Read more about insects and pheromones in these related posts:
Product of the Month - All Beetle AA Carpet Beetle Kit (IL-2110)
Insect of the Month: Cigarette Beetle (Lasioderma serricorne)
Insects Limited, an Insect Pheromone Company
Insects Limited, Inc. researches, tests, develops, manufactures and distributes pheromones and trapping systems for insects in a global marketplace. The highly qualified staff also can assist with consultation, areas of expert witness, training presentations and grant writing.
Insects Limited, Inc. specializes in a unique niche of pest control that provides mainstream products and services to protect stored food, grain, museum collections, tobacco, timber and fiber worldwide. Please take some time to view these products and services in our web store.
