Do Carpet Beetles Eat Human Hair

Long story short i am now shocked to learn about anthrenus verbasci carpet beetles known as fabric eating insects who feed on fabric wool pet hair human hair carpet fibers and live behind walls baseboards in the attic in birds nests and around windows signaling infestation.

Do carpet beetles eat human hair.

These beetles may also eat synthetic fabrics if they are soiled with food or oils. Technically speaking the hair on the top of your head would qualify as organic matter to carpet beetles. The larvae which may reach 12 7 mm in length are very different from other carpet beetles larvae fig. Carpet beetles will nibble on their hair.

In doing this they will walk across your body which can leave an irritating rash for some people. This strange variety of food sources makes carpet beetles hard to control with natural integrated pest management methods. Carpet beetles are small pests that cause damage by eating your carpets clothing upholstery and just about anything that they come into contact with. These types of materials carpet beetles routinely feast on include wool felt leather silk fur and feathers.

They will attack your hair if you accidentally find a large nest. Carpet beetle in humans carpet beetle larvae feed on dead insects hides milled products pet food crumbs lint felt soiled clothing and more. Carpet beetle dermatitis is years of exposer developing. They may also eat items such as natural hair brushes with natural fibers hair and other human and animal debris that collects around the house.

Carpet beetles congregate wherever animal fibers can be consumed. If you have a lot of hair on the top of your head then you could literally be sheltering a breeding ground for these carpet beetles. Yes ma am they eat human hair and since you have already seen one larvae you will find more. Due to the scent of essential oils people may have applied to their hair.

Carpet beetles like the essential oils in your hair this will cause them to get in bed with you and nibble on your hair while you sleep. Where do carpet beetles live. Another shocking eating habit of carpet beetles is that they like to gnaw on human hair. Carpet beetles feed on organic materials such as animal and human hair plants and any materials made from animals such as wool silk leather and fur.

The adult carpet beetle does not eat hair it s the carpet beetle larvae looks like a very small caterpillar that eats hair fur wool etc. They are elongate carrot shaped golden to chocolate brown with short golden hairs on the body and have a tuft of very long curled golden brown hair extending from the last abdominal segment. Sometimes while chasing down hairs they will crawl into bed with people and while they are sleeping.