Carpet Beetle Yellow Spots

They look like small miniature ladybird beetles lady bugs but with a black shell and yellow spots.

Carpet beetle yellow spots.

Black and yellow stripes run the length of its wing covers. The adults are small 1 16 to 1 8 inch oval shaped beetles ranging in color from black to various mottled patterns of white brown yellow and orange. Varied carpet beetles feature irregular patterns of white brown and dark yellow scales which fade to solid black or brown as the insect ages. It is visible to the human eye at 1 8 3 16 inch in length.

You can tell the beetles apart because the striped cucumber beetle has a black abdomen. Food and sweat stains on fabrics can attract carpet beetles. White and yellow scales cover the thorax and body in distinct patterns on furniture carpet beetles. Adult carpet beetles feed on flower pollen and do not damage woolens and other fabrics.

Clean carpet beetle prone areas frequently. Additionally orange and red scales run down the midline of the beetles. This little beetle is a serious crop pest and is similar in its look to the western corn rootworm beetle diabrotica virgifera. Treat spills and stains immediately as well.

Vacuuming carpeting and washing your clothes and other fabrics frequently at least once every 2 or so weeks is the best way to prevent a carpet beetle infestation. As you can guess from its name the striped markings help to identify this beetle. The varied carpet beetle adult is black with an irregular pattern of brown white and dark yellow scales on its elytra wing covers.