[Nathanael Jones]

I just had a customer call in a bit of a panic as she's just found maggots in her carpet under the couch. The carpet is ruined (eaten to the backing in places) and will have to be replaced, but she reckons she can't get it sorted till after crimbo, and she's worried they will spread.
She wants a quick fix to kill them and to make her feel that the carpet is clean for the time being.
What would you do?

[Kinver_Clean]

Give it a good vac to remove the loose pile and as many larvae as possible, the spray with a good insecticide under all the standing furniture. If you have not a proprietary insecticide use a good dog flea residual spray.
In 25 yrs I have not seen as much carpet moth and carpet beetle damage as this year. At one property the moths were flying up out of the carpet a dozen at a time, the room was covered in them, the carpet took a bashing as well.
Put a search in on Ixquick.com  for carpet beetle and carpet moth, two different creatures and different lifestyles.

Trevor

[Nathanael Jones]

Would I be right in thinking that hoovering and spraying would be enough,... no point washing it if its only going to be replaced in 2 weeks? And washing it would prob wash away the insecticide too.

[John Kelly]

Tell them that the floor may need treating once the carpet is uplifted in case any eggs or larvae migrate to the new carpet. Could treat the new carpet as well.

[Alan Brooker. Aqualink Carpet Care]

Physical removal is the key here. If there is any amount of natural fibre (other than jute etc) in the face fabric or stuffing of the curtains, upholstery, pleated lampshades etc then this can be a source of food and place of hiding. One job this year comes to mind where I found them under the carpet, in the underlay, deep in antique furniture and right up the top of the INSIDE of the curtains as well as in the creases on the outside.
Very thorough detailed vacuum cleaning followed up by application of 'No Insekt' (about the cheapest and safest way to ensure eradication - it's permethrin free).
Have fun and charge your going rate. Pest control is a growth market and it pays well if you can get hold of the proper solutions. Red tape has made this difficult - used to be able to get hold of permethrin wettable powder or cooprex wettable powder. (Not exactly C4 - it comes from the Chrysanthemum plant).

Alan

[Doug Holloway]

Hi Guys

I managed to get the wettable Pemethryn from a specialist stockist, but he did have to hunt around.

He said insecticides had moved on but he couldn't supply me with the new ones as I needed a weeks pest control course first !

Another example of how H&S is meaning we have having to use 'weaker' products.

Cheers

Doug

[Alan Brooker. Aqualink Carpet Care]

Apparently the course is easy enough but the annual accreditation costs with the BPCA are over £600+ vat. Thats more than my other membership fee's added together!

Alan

[spencer davies]

I have used a product called 'No insekt' which is non hazardous and very effective.


Regards

S