Beetle identification

[phil]

I have in my loft a few suspected beetles.

They are of a similar shape to a ladybiard, yet are about a quarter of the size.

Markings are black with white splotches (or vice versa).

Are there any sites on the 'net with pictures which would help to to identify them please?

thanks

[Alex]

Carpet beetles commonly called wooley bear,search on google will give you the answers

[phil]

Thanks very much. Looks like they don't do any harm, but I'm curious what they're doing in my loft (no signs of birds nests up there, etc).

What is a good, readily available treatment for them?

thanks

[phil]

I mean they don't do any harm to wood, but they do to carpets.

Any treatment for them must be dog and cat friendly.

[FrancisJK]

A few years ago, these started to appear in our house. I never traced the source. My only theory centres around an artificial Christmas tree with real pine cones that was made in China that we bought the same year that the thingys appeared.

FrancisJK

[BillV]

Ahh, that ties in with my experience... and we won't go into the wigs made with human hair from god knows where...

[FrancisJK]

Having my lunch, so won't ask about wigs.

What about the pine cones, what was your experience?

FrancisJK