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HEALTHY HOME MONTHLY JULY 2018 Published exclusively for clients of Tru-Clean Carpet & Tile Care In This Issue Carpet Beetles... What are the facts? A Celebration of independence They save lives, but... know what happens when an airbag deploys Stay safe using free Wi-Fi Recipe: BBQ Beef Brisket Sandwiches Good Clean Funnies Moneywise Carpet Beetles What are the facts? July is National Grilling Month Carpet beetles deserve to rank near the top of your list of uninvited guests. These oval- shaped flying insects can ruin your carpets, rugs, upholstered furniture, and clothing as well as cause irritating dermatitis in children and sensitive adults. These are unwelcome guests you really want to “show the door” as quickly as possible. Life Cycle of a Carpet Beetle 239.541.4888 www.ForCleanCarpets.com Carpet Cleaning Tile and Grout Cleaning Upholstery Cleaning Leather Cleaning Pet Urine and Odor Treatments Mattress Cleaning Grout Coloring & Sealing Oriental & Persian Rug Cleaning Anti-Allergen Treatments The four life-stages of carpet beetles are egg, larvae, pupae, and adult. Female carpet beetles lay up to a hundred eggs, which hatch into larvae in approximately 35 days. This stage is the most damaging because larvae feed on carpets and clothing. The larval stage lasts 6 to 18 months, during which these voracious insects do the most damage. The final part of the larval stage is metamorphosis, after which the adult beetle emerges. Adult carpet beetles can live up to a year. Identifying Carpet Beetles The larvae are very small, so it can be difficult to spot them. Larvae look like tiny, hairy worms and prefer dark, undisturbed areas such as under furniture, rugs and in closets. Adult black carpet beetles are black with brown-colored legs, and their length in inches ranges from 1/8 to 3/16. As larvae, these pests shed skin and fecal pellets, each of which can cause allergic reactions in some people. Carpet beetles do not bite people or animals. The irritation caused by contact with carpet beetle larvae can be confused with bites from bed bugs or fleas. Property damage from carpet beetles is very similar to moth damage. Small, irregular-shaped holes in clothes and rugs are a telltale sign of either a carpet beetle or moth problem. If it is a moth problem, you will usually see moths in the area. Adult carpet beetles prefer to live outdoors and graze on pollen. Fighting back Maintaining cleanliness may not be enough to avoid an infestation from carpet beetles. Since these pests can enter on food packages, luggage and on shoes, they are difficult to avoid—especially if you have a pet, as larvae feed on animal fur and dander. Along with vacuuming, professional carpet, rug and upholstery cleaning are essential. Continued on next page }