What Do Carpet Beetle Larvae Skins Look Like

The larvae have to molt several times in order to grow.

What do carpet beetle larvae skins look like.

A typical larva top and shed skin bottom. Seeing these around your home is one sign of an infestation. Their old skins split down the back much like a cicada nymph s shell and the larvae work their way out. Carpet beetle larvae molt or shed their skins several times as they grow.

The best way to tell carpet beetle damage from clothes moth damage is to look for shed skins left behind by carpet beetle larvae. Their most unique feature is the bristly hairs that are located on their backs. Carpet beetle larvae grow up to 1 4 of an inch in length. You will notice shed skins that look like little shells.

They may look mottled with black brown and white or be solid black depending on the species. However carpet beetles obviously cause carpet beetle dermatitis because that is where the name comes from. They could just crawl on your skin and their hairs will cause it to have an allergic. Depending on the specific species they can be tapered like a carrot or oval in shape.

Feeding damage caused by carpet beetles. These light brown empty skins remain behind and can accumulate in areas where larvae are feeding. Their larvae are grublike and covered with hairs. They are usually brown or tan and have white and tan stripes on their bodies.