Do spider mites live in carpets? This is an often raised question we’ll attempt to answer. The very nature of the question itself sounds a bit off because mites feed on plants.
Spider mites are arachnids known to attack or cause problems to a wide variety of plants.
As such, the connection between carpets and plants seems quite distant. As part of the process of providing you with answers, we’ll first discuss what attracts spider mites or their habitats.
We’ll also include information on what they feed on and what the attraction is with carpets (if any).
What Attracts Spider Mites?
If you’ve witnessed increased spider mite activity around your home, you’ll be tempted to ask the question “what attracts spider mites? Where do they come from?”
The answer is simple! Plants! Spider mites get drawn to a wide variety of plants due to the availability of food.
Now, these arachnids or pests can easily be transferred from one infested area to a non-infested area by simply clinging onto your shoes or clothing. When you enter your garden, these pests swing into action by attacking your plants.
Your dogs or pets can also transfer spider mites from your nursery into your home. Your home will serve as an ideal spot when there are indoor plants because spider mites feed on them.
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Preferred Spider Mite Habitats
Knowing the habitats of spider mites will help us determine if these pests are attracted to your carpets or not. These arachnids will gravitate to low humidity-high temperature areas.
This isn’t to say you won’t find spider mites in humid areas.
Spider mites won’t be found in dusty conditions such as soil or most importantly your carpet. So, is this a confirmation that spider mites don’t live in carpets? Hang on for the verdict.
What Do Spider Mites Feed On?
The same thing that attracts spider mites is what they feed on. Spider mites feed on your precious plants. These pests possess piercing mouth parts that enable them to suck plant juices. This continued feeding activity eventually weakens your plants.
Spider mites normally love feeding on leafy plants as well as trees. Those plants with higher phosphorus, nitrogen, and carbohydrates are most preferred by spider mites.
Spider Mites Don’t Live in Carpets
Carpets don’t provide the perfect condition for spider mites to thrive. This is because most carpets will be dusty (no matter how little). Also, there’s no food around such areas as carpets.
This is why we focused on what attracts spider mites as well as what they eat.
Do Other Mites Live in Carpets?
If you have strong suspicions about mite presence or activity in your carpet, your suspicions might be valid even with the presence of spider mites ruled out.
Other tiny bugs do live in carpets. These are known as carpet beetles.
These pests feed on assorted products including fabric and natural fiber, fur, felt, animal hair, and wool. Their bristly skin also adds to the problem as they cause skin irritations when you come in contact with them. The problem with carpet beetles is that their destructive activity goes on unnoticed for long periods.
This ends up worsening the damage caused by their feeding activity. However, when these beetles mature, they no longer feed on fabric but pollen. You’re likely to find these bugs flying around when the light is put on. Carpet beetles are attracted to light.
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Containing the Problem
Whenever you suspect carpet beetle presence, it’s necessary to take immediate action.
Such action may include calling a reliable pest management service. These services are skilled in the provision of a wide range of solutions to pest problems. You only need to point to the problem for further inspection.
Dust Mites
Dust mites are found almost everywhere including surfaces such as beds, couches, pillows, and of course your carpets. These microscopic insects are also found on your skin and feed on dead skin.
Now, these are basically harmless. However, when they become too much, allergies may result.
This is a situation you want to avoid. As such, you can begin by treating your carpets including other surfaces for dust mites.
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How to Treat or Get Rid of Dust Mites on Carpets?
Carpets are known to harbor a significant amount of dust. These offer ideal hiding and feeding spots for dust mites. As such, your best bet to reduce these is by frequent vacuuming. Vacuuming should cover all areas of your carpet.
What more? You’ll need to also focus on other areas such as your furniture or couches. Most vacuum cleaners have attachments for couch cleaning. Fix these and clean up your couches or sofas. Also, carry out a frequent dusting of surfaces. This helps limit the volume of dust mites you have to deal with.
Your bedding must be washed frequently. This includes your sheets, covers, and pillowcases. Once in a while, you may want to treat your pillows for dust mites. This can be done by placing them in your dryer at high temperatures to run for a few minutes.
Generally, you should try to ensure your home is dust-free as dust serves as a free invitation to dust mites. Also, include other surfaces such as immovable items in your dusting. That way, you end up reducing a significant portion of these mites.
It’s important to reduce clutter around your home. Such clutter serves as an open invitation to dust mites. These will be found in newspaper piles, dirty laundry, and more. These will have to be removed and the surroundings tidied.
It’s important to know that dust mites cannot be eliminated. Frequent cleaning reduces their population and any irritations resulting from their activities.
Spider mites do not live in carpets because such areas aren’t ideal habitats. We’ve looked at what attracts these mites as well as what they feed on. None of these are related to your carpets.
However, we’ve mentioned the mites that are likely to create a problem for you. These include carpet beetles and dust mites and can easily infest your carpets.
You swing into action by getting rid of these pests and also by cleaning your home as best you can.