- 1). Search for signs that you have an infestation. Common signs are holes in natural fabrics, fraying carpets or small holes in food cartons. Small black husks of dead beetles also might indicate an infestation. Check in dark areas for larvae, as this is where they live.
- 2). Place the beetle onto a white background to help distinguish its features. The black carpet beetle is oval and measures roughly 1/8 inch long. It has six short legs and two antennae at the front. The black carpet beetle can be distinguished from other carpet beetles by the absence of any patterns or other colors. Common pattern colors in other carpet beetles are white, brown, yellow and orange.
- 3). Check around clothing for larvae. These worms are longer than the grown beetle, measuring ¼ inch long. The black carpet beetle larvae are striped with black and yellow colors. The larvae will be covered in small bristles or hairs that allow it to cling to clothing and crawl up vertical surfaces.
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