It was such a good deal. A fabulous find of a true cashmere coat for a measly price and a quick click purchase on the Internet. My interesting conversation at the dry cleaners was about a nightmare of paying way too much for what ended up being a well-ventilated cashmere coat. The cashmere coat may not have been worn to a dinner, but it had been dinner for a bunch of hungry beetles.
In the natural world, how much you paid for an item is immaterial. A wool sweater or cashmere coat is considered a discarded sheep or goat skin. Nature sends in the cleanup crew of various insects to dispose of the refuse. To them, your woolens say smorgasbord.
Clothes moths often get the blame for clothing damage. If you see moths flying around lights in your home, they are more than likely the pantry pest, the Indianmeal moth. Fabric damage is often from beetles. Dermestid beetles include various species of carpet beetles and larder beetles. They feed on organic fibers and grains, including wool, fur, feathers, hair, flour, beans, animal dandruff, dead insects, leather, silk, dog and cat food, birdseed, powdered milk, dried meat, animal trophies, dead rodents in wall voids, book bindings, crafts with seeds, cotton and linen.
They will even feed on the felt pads on hammers of old pianos. So if your piano sounds funny, check to see if you have an accompaniment of tone-deaf beetles. They also will feed on wall hangings, rugs and insect collections. Carpet beetles are the scourge of museums. They do not feed on synthetic fibers, so your polyester leisure suit is safe. They will, however, feed on blends of wool and synthetics. They are pests of stored items and seldom feed on regularly used items.
Adult beetles vary from 1/8 inch to 1/4 inch long. They have typical roundish beetle bodies of black or brown with short antennae. Some species have markings of yellow or white. Don't confuse carpet beetles with Asian multicolored lady beetles that are orange to brown with dark spots and do not feed on clothing.
Carpet beetles develop from eggs to become larvae, form a pupa then become adults. Like most families, it's the youngsters that do the most damage. Larvae resemble little furry cigars about 1/4 inch long with white bodies covered with long brown hairs. Larvae prefer dark secluded places to feed. Adult beetles feed on flower nectar and pollen and are attracted to night lights. They may fly into homes in May and June.
Managing carpet beetles requires several approaches. First, good sanitation is important to remove extraneous food sources. Vacuum regularly to remove lint, hair and other debris. Be sure to vacuum furniture, carpets along baseboards, under heavy furniture and in closets. After vacuuming areas that are known to be infested, change the vacuum cleaner bag immediately.
Clothing should always be cleaned thoroughly before storing. Perspiration and food stains attract carpet beetles. Thorough laundering in hot water or dry cleaning will kill all stages of the beetles. Freezing items for at least five to six days or placing items in the hot setting of a clothes dryer for at least 30 minutes can also be effective. For specialty rugs, consult a dry cleaner or carpet-cleaning business.
Once items are thoroughly cleaned, they should be stored to exclude future infestations. Store in airtight rubber or plastic containers. Mothballs and flakes are effective but must be used safely out of the reach of pets and children.
Usually, sanitation and laundering can take care of beetle and moth problems. Cedar and mint oils may work as repellents. Cedar wood, however, loses oils with age, and cedar vapors must be in an airtight container to be effective.
For more information and pictures of carpet beetles, visit http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/bugreview/carpetbeetles.html[1] .
Sandra Mason is unit educator, horticulture and environment, for the UI Extension, Champaign County. Contact her with questions or comments at 801 N. Country Fair Drive, Champaign, IL 61821, call 333-7672, email slmason@illinois.edu[2] or fax 333-7683.
References
- ^ http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/bugreview/carpetbeetles.html (www.urbanext.uiuc.edu)
- ^ slmason@illinois.edu (www.news-gazette.com)
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