Dermestid Beetle Control: How to Get Rid of Dermestid Beetles

This page is an expert guide on eliminating dermestid beetles from your property using the products and methods our experienced pest control specialists suggested. Follow this guide and use the recommended products, and we guarantee you will be successful.

There are many types of beetles that you may encounter in your home and yard. Some may be relatively harmless and nothing more than a nuisance, but others, like the dermestid beetle, can be very damaging. These beetles come from an insect family known for eating skin.

Dermestid beetles are scavenger beetles. Depending on the species, they are known to eat dead insects, wool, stored grains, carpets, and the skin of dead animals. They are so good at eating away flesh that they are used in taxidermy and bone preservation.

Encountering a dermestid beetle in your home, such as in your pantry, closets, or storage areas, is a cause for concern, and action should be taken because they do multiply in large numbers. If you are dealing with an infestation of dermestid beetles, follow our helpful DIY guide below to learn how to quickly eliminate this bothersome pest using our advice and product recommendations.

Identification

Before you can proceed with treatment, you must be sure that the pest you are dealing with is a dermestid beetle and not some other insect. Misidentification can lead to using the wrong treatment methods and products, which can be a large waste of time and money.

• Nearly 700 species of dermestid beetles are found worldwide, including around 120 species in the US alone.
• Adult dermestid beetles are 2 to 5 millimeters long and oval-shaped.
• They have dots and patterns of different colors on their bodies. Their exoskeleton usually has a black, brown, or yellow pattern.
• Dermestid beetle larvae are more notorious for damaging fabrics. They have hair protrusions on the ends of their bodies.
• Dermestid beetle larvae are fuzzy and brownish to reddish. The larvae shed their skin multiple times during their development, and the skin left behind is one of the most obvious signs of an infestation.

Use the description and image above to properly identify dermestid beetles on your property. If you are unsure, contact us, and we will have one of our pros assist you with correct identification.

Inspection

Once you have confirmed that you are dealing with dermestid beetles, you can proceed to inspection. During this phase, you will need to find out where the dermestid beetles are located and the places they are infesting. This will help you in determining where to focus your treatment application.

Where To Inspect

Dermestid beetles can damage any fabric or upholstered item. Nearly every household item is prone to damage, including mattresses, traditional furniture fillings, and curtains. Carpets are the most vulnerable fabric product to damage by dermestid beetles because they rest on the floor. Carpets also cover a large area, making it easier for beetles to infest without getting noticed.

What To Look For 

You will need to look for the dermestid beetle itself, signs of damage caused by them, or the beetle's left-behind droppings. Dermestid beetle droppings, or fecal pellets, are about the size of a grain of salt. But there will be a noticeable accumulation of the pellets where the beetles are infesting.

Shed skin will also be present in infested areas. If you find any of these on your carpets or furniture upholstery, you should confirm the presence of dermestid beetles. Do this by inspecting for small chewed patches. If cocoons or tubes are present, it is confirmed that the place is infested with these beetles.

Treatment

Once you have confirmed dermestid beetle activity, it's time to begin treatment. Remember that you must read all the product labels, follow the application instructions on these labels, and stay safe by wearing personal protective equipment (PPE).

To treat dermestid beetles, we recommend a combination of cleaning measures, such as vacuuming to remove the beetles with professional insecticides. After a thorough vacuuming, apply Supreme IT to cracks and crevices inside the home and create a perimeter barrier outside of your home. We also recommend spraying an IGR such as Gentrol Aerosol indoors to stop the life cycle and a new generation of dermestid beetles. 

Step 1: Vacuum Your Home

If you have found dermestid beetles indoors, in your pantry or storage areas, or even on your carpet, you must vacuum to get rid of the infestation. In your pantry, we recommend throwing out every dried food item that isn't in a tightly sealed glass or plastic container, old or new. 

Once items are thrown away and your pantry is cleaned out, you should thoroughly vacuum it. The pantry shelves should be vacuumed from top to bottom, as well as the floor and ceiling, if possible. Use a crevice attachment to ensure that no areas are overlooked. Pay close attention to the edges of the shelves, as well as the wall and floor areas.

Vacuum your carpets and upholstered furniture well and do so daily until you see no further adult pest activity.

Step 2: Spray Supreme IT

Supreme IT is a broad-spectrum insecticide labeled for treating beetles. It has a long residual effect that kills for up to 90 days after application.

To apply Supreme IT, mix it with water in a hand pump sprayer.

Apply Supreme IT at a rate of 1 oz per gallon of water to cover 1,000 sq. ft.

Shake well and pump your sprayer. Apply the product indoors around cracks and crevices, such as your baseboards, corners, edges of carpeting, and other areas where you have noticed or would suspect dermestid beetle activity.

Next, you should spray a perimeter treatment of Supreme around the outside of your home and structure to create a barrier that will keep dermestid beetles out. Spray around doors and windows, around the foundation going up 2 or 3 feet, and then spray any other possible entry points.

Step 3: Spray Gentrol Aerosol

After spraying the Supreme IT, we recommend applying an IGR such as Gentrol Aerosol indoors to prevent the rebounding of the dermestid beetle infestation. Insect growth regulators disrupt the molting process of beetles, stopping the larvae from growing into adults. This mixture will simultaneously kill beetles and stop their reproduction.

Gentrol Aerosol should be applied at a rate of 16 ounces per 1,200 sq. ft. of surface area.

Shake the can well, hold it 10 to 12 inches away from the surface area to be treated, and spray using a sweeping motion over the surface for complete coverage.

To treat cracks and crevices, attach the extension tube and apply it to wall voids, storage areas, closets, around doors and windows, and under appliances, furniture, and beds where you suspect beetle activity.

Prevention

After the dermestid beetles have been eliminated from your home, you must ensure they don't return. Here are some preventative measures we suggest to prevent dermestid infestations from happening again.

• Clean your clothing regularly in the washer and dryer. Clothes that seem clean and unaffected might be hosting beetle eggs; therefore, it is necessary to wash them. Using hot water with detergent can help get rid of any traces of Dermestid Beetles on your unspoiled clothes.
• Check your pantry regularly for pantry pests. Throw out old or unused dried foods and keep the foods you wish to keep sealed in air-tight containers.
• Inspect your place for gaps, cracks, or holes in the walls and vents. If you find any, have them sealed or filled with caulk.
• Lastly, spray Supreme IT quarterly around your home and yard for continued beetle and insect control.

Key Takeaways

What are Dermestid Beetles?

• Dermestid beetles are known for eating skin and carpeting and commonly infest pantries and clothing.

How To Get Rid of Dermestid Beetles

• We recommend combining vacuum cleaning and applying Supreme IT and Gentrol Aerosol to control infestations.

Preventing Dermestid Beetle Reinfestation

• Seal points of entry around your home, reduce clutter and spray Supreme IT quarterly to prevent dermestid beetles from reinfesting.