IPM for Fabric and Pantry Pests
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Chapter 9 IPM for Fabric and Pantry Pests Introduction varied in appearance (see Table 9-1). Damage Their bodies are covered with small Dermestid beetles, such as carpet and scales or hairs, which are visible with a Dermestid beetle holes are usually hide beetles, are sometimes referred magnifying glass. Larvae are brown- concentrated in a few areas and can to as fabric pests. They can digest ker- ish, 1/8 to 1/2 inch long, and charac- be quite large. Carpet beetles dam- atin, the “hard” protein of which hair, teristically hairy or bristly. age materials made from wool such horns, nails, claws, hooves, feathers, as sweaters, uniforms, felt, wool yarn, and reptile scales are formed. These The larval stage is the most damag- etc. They can also destroy insect col- insects can also attack a wide variety ing. Females lay eggs throughout the lections, furniture, and carpets. Hide of other natural materials and even year, and the eggs hatch after less beetles feed on animal carcasses and some synthetic ones. than two weeks. The larvae feed for hides, and also damage furnishings, varying periods, depending upon the carpets, and fabrics. Some species also Identification and Biology species and the environmental condi- infest stored, dried foods such as ce- tions. When ready to pupate, the lar- real (Table 9-2 provides more detailed Adult beetles are small and have short, vae may burrow farther into the food information on the food preferences clubbed antennae but are otherwise or wander and burrow elsewhere. of both hide and carpet beetles). Table 9-1. Important Carpet or Hide Beetles (Dermestids) Common Name(s) Scientific Name Description of Adults Furniture carpet beetle Antbrenus flavipes • 1/10 inch to 1/5 inch long • definite cleft at rear • mottled with black, white, and yellow scales Varied carpet beetle A. verbasci • 1/10 inch to 1/8 inch long • mottled with white, brownish and yellowish scales Black carpet beetle Attagenus megatom • 1/10 inch to 1/5 inch long, oval • Shiny black and dark brown with brownish legs Black larder beetle Dermestes ater • 3/10 inch to 2/5 inch long • black with yellowish gray hairs • black rounded and hook-shaped spots on underside of abdomen Larder beetle D. Lardariu • 3/10 inch to 2/5 inch long • dark brown with pale grayish yellow hair • yellow band at base of wing covers with about six black spots Hide beetle D. Maculatus • 1/5 inch to 2/5 inch long • black with white hairs on sides and undersides • apex of each wing cover comes to a fine point Warehouse beetle Trogoderma variabile • 1/8 inch long • brownish black © The Board of Regents of the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. All rights reserved. IPM for Fabric and Pantry Pests • 87 Table 9-2. Some Food Sources for Carpet and Hide Beetles Beetle Food Sources Furniture carpet beetle horse-hair filled furniture, wool, hair, fur, feathers, bristles, horn, tortoise shell, silk, animal (Anthrenus flavipes) excreta, stained linen, cotton, rayon, jute, Softwood, leather, bags, dried silkworm pupae and cocoons, dead mice, dead insects, dried cheese, old grain, casein, dried blood, and the glue of book bindings Varied carpet beetle nests of bees, wasps, and spiders; carpets, woolen goods, skins, furs, stuffed animals, leather (A. verbasci) book bindings, feathers, horns, whalebone, hair, silk, fish manure, dried silkworm pupae, rye meal, cacao, corn, red pepper, and dead insects in collections Black carpet beetle feathers, dead birds, birds’ nests, bird manure, dry horse and cow carcasses, seeds, grains, (Attagenus megatoma) cereals, woolen rugs, clothing, carpeting, felts, furs, skins, yarn, velvet, silk, hair-filled mattresses, upholstered furniture, wool-filled blankets, house insulation with sheep wool or cattle hair, meat, insect meal, kid leather, milk powders, casein, books, cayenne pepper, dried pupae of silkworms, pet food, spilled flours, and pollen (for adults, particularly of Spiraea) Black larder beetle mouse cadavers in walls of building; partially burned food and other kitchen wastes in (Dermestes ater) incinerators; pet foods Larder beetle stored ham, bacon, meats, cheese, dried museum specimens, stored tobacco, dried fish, dog (D. lardarius) biscuits; can tunnel slightly in wood; can penetrate lead and tin but not zinc or aluminum; pest of silkworm cultures; reported to attack newly hatched chickens and ducklings Hide beetle prefers hides and skins; used to clean carcasses; known to survive on smoked meat and (D. maculatus) dried cheese, but cannot live on fat alone; larvae can tunnel short distances into wood Warehouse beetle prefers barley, wheat, animal feeds, grains, and pollen; also found in seeds, dead animals, (Trogoderma variabile) cereals, candy, cocoa, cookies, corn, corn meal, dog food (dried and “burgers”), fish meal, flour, dead insects, milk powder, nut meats, dried peas, potato chips, noodles, spaghetti, and dried spices Detection card under the open end. Seal the jar is rarely moved, in wall and floor and Monitoring and place it in the freezer overnight. cracks, in cracks behind filing The dead insect can be examined cabinets, shelves, or other built- Look for holes in fabric, for larvae, with a magnifying glass or taken to a in items that may not be flush cast skins of beetle larvae, or insect professional for identification. with the wall, behind baseboards, excreta in stored materials. moldings and window trim, and in An inspection should include the fol- cold air and heater ducts Carpet beetle larvae may be found lowing locations: wandering far from their food, par- • around stored animal specimens, • around carpets or furniture feathers, garments, blankets, or ticularly to pupate so they are some- covered or filled with susceptible times encountered on materials they other items made of susceptible materials; infestations may be un- materials do not actually eat. Also, adult carpet der the slipcovers, where it is dark beetles do not shun light and may be and quiet, or in the pads under the • around bags or boxes of dried found crawling on windows. This is carpet milk, fish or meat meal, dog food, often the first place they are noticed. etc; note that carpet beetles can • around accumulations of lint and bore through cardboard and paper These beetles are easy to catch: cover other organic debris, particularly packaging the insect with a jar and slowly slide a under and behind furniture that 88 • IPM for Fabric and Pantry Pests © The Board of Regents of the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. All rights reserved. If the infestation does not appear to help reduce the possibility of an nests of birds, rodents, bats, bees, and large enough to account for the infestation developing. wasps, as well as from the carcasses number of pests found, or if clean- of dead animals. Remove nests in ing up the infestation does not seem Cedar Products the eaves, in the walls, or close to the to diminish their number, then a Cedar chests have long been thought walls of the building. Problems with further search should focus on less to protect against fabric pests, but it birds’ nests usually occur after the obvious sources: has been known for many years that nestlings have left. • bird, wasp, bee, squirrel, or other although cedar oil can kill very young Nests should be removed before the animal nests on, or very close to, larvae, the oil does not affect eggs, cold weather sets in and the beetles the walls of the building pupae, adults, or larger larvae, and begin searching for sheltered hiber- that cedar lumber loses its oil in only • animal carcasses or trophies, nation spots. If there is a problem a few years. Commercial repellents with rats and mice, these should insect collections, or leather or made from cedar, cedar oil, or herbs horn goods be trapped rather than poisoned. If cannot be counted on to give ade- poisoned rodents die in inaccessible • cut flowers, or blooming bushes quate control to protect goods, either. places, their carcasses can become near open, unscreened windows food sources for fabric pests and flies. or doorways Vacuuming (See Chapter 13 for management of • incompletely incinerated garbage Accumulations of lint, human and mice and rats.) animal hair, and other organic In some circumstances, sticky traps debris in cracks and crevices of placed in areas where activity is Pantry Pests floors, baseboards, closets, and suspected may be useful for monitor- shelves provide food for fabric ing. Hang them where you suspect Stored foods can become infested pests. These areas should be cleaned you might have a problem and check with various pantry pests. They com- thoroughly and regularly to prevent them daily monly infest flour, cereals, cracked infestations. It is particularly impor- grains, baking mixes and processed tant to clean under furniture that is foods, crackers, macaroni, cured Management Options rarely moved (e.g., desks, bookcases, meats, powdered milk, dried fruits, cabinets, etc.); in closets where nuts, popcorn and spices. Insects There is rarely a need to use an fabric items, furs, and feather-filled that feed on these products may also insecticide to control carpet beetles materials are stored; and inside and infest other grain-based items such as and other dermestids. The following behind heaters, vents, and ducts. pet foods, birdseed and ornamental physical controls should be adequate. corn. Dried flower arrangements may Caulking Physical Controls also be attacked. Caulking or otherwise repairing Identification and Biology Storage in Tight Containers cracks and crevices where lint and hair can accumulate will reduce the If clean materials are placed into Indian Meal Moth number of fabric pests that are able to tightly sealed containers, they will be (Plodia interpunctella) live in the environment. Areas of par- safe from infestation. The problem ticular concern are the spaces inside The Indian meal moth (adult Figure with closets and similar storage areas cabinets where shelves do not meet 9-1) is the most common food- is that they are almost impossible to the wall and similar spaces in drawers seal because newly hatched larvae are holding susceptible materials.