What Do Carpet Beetle Larvae Skins Look Like

However carpet beetles obviously cause carpet beetle dermatitis because that is where the name comes from.

What do carpet beetle larvae skins look like.

As noted earlier carpet beetle larvae feed on animal based materials especially wool felt fur silk feathers and leather. The larvae have to molt several times in order to grow. These light brown empty skins remain behind and can accumulate in areas where larvae are feeding. Seeing these around your home is one sign of an infestation.

A typical larva top and shed skin bottom. Their larvae are grublike and covered with hairs. Where do carpet beetles live. Depending on the specific species they can be tapered like a carrot or oval in shape.

Their old skins split down the back much like a cicada nymph s shell and the larvae work their way out. You will notice shed skins that look like little shells. They could just crawl on your skin and their hairs will cause it to have an allergic. Their most unique feature is the bristly hairs that are located on their backs.

They are usually brown or tan and have white and tan stripes on their bodies. The best way to tell carpet beetle damage from clothes moth damage is to look for shed skins left behind by carpet beetle larvae. Although the biting of carpet beetles can cause bad symptoms on your skin actual dermatitis comes from a skin allergy that you have to these beetles. Carpet beetle larvae molt or shed their skins several times as they grow.