Textile Pests

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Signs of a Textile Pest Infestation

Once you know the signs to look for, it can be fairly simple to spot evidence of a textile pest infestation.

Regular inspections and monitoring can help to identify a problem early to ensure fast and effective textile pest treatment. Taking immediate action can greatly reduce the risk of long term damage to sensitive items like woollen carpets and textile items of historic and cultural significance.

Textile Pest Signs

Apart from damage, other visible signs of an infestation also exist. In general, beetle larvae tend to concentrate damage in one main area of an item whereas moth larvae create more scattered areas of damage.

Evidence of activity:

  • Live or dead adult insects - such as carpet beetles or textile moths, often found gathered around window openings are an indication of an infestation.

  • Damage - often caused to natural fabric items such as carpets, tapestries, rugs, leather book bindings, upholstered furniture, silks and feathered items.
    Check for signs of damage on pillows, mattresses, cushions and furniture with traditional fillings such as feathers or horse hair. Brushes and paint brushes made with natural bristles, and pads and felts in woodwind instruments (especially if stored for long periods of time) are also at risk.

  • Faeces and shed skin - carpet beetle larvae produce faecal pellets about the size of a salt grain and shed brown shell like cast skins. These will be concentrated in the source area of infestation.

  • Larvae - textile pest larvae prefer to hide in quiet, dark, undisturbed locations such as under large items of furniture (that are not often moved) or in wardrobes or closets. Carpet beetle larvae have alternate light and brown striped bodies and are covered with dense tufts of hair – giving them the nick name “woolly bears”.

  • Eggs - check for eggs of textile pests, as they are often laid in air ducts, cupboards, wardrobes, under furniture as well as on textiles and fabrics.

Have you noticed these signs?

Call us for effective treatment of textile pests, even on delicate items

Our knowledgeable, experienced technicians will identify the exact textile pest causing the damage.

Once we have established the extent of the infestation, advice on the most appropriate treatment for the textile or artefact will be offered.