Dried Insect Larva or Skin (likely Carpet Beetle Larva or moth larva)
Scientific Name: Anthrenus verbasci (if Carpet Beetle) or Tineola bisselliella (if Clothes Moth)
Order & Family: Coleoptera (Beetles) - Dermestidae / Lepidoptera (Moths) - Tineidae
Size: 2mm - 5mm length (dried specimen)
Natural Habitat
Indoors in dark, secluded areas like closets, under furniture, in carpets, or stored fabrics. Outdoors in bird nests and hive debris.
Diet & Feeding
Natural fibers (wool, silk, fur), dead insects, pet hair, feathers, and stored dry food products.
Behavior Patterns
Larvae prefer dark, undisturbed locations where they graze on organic materials. When threatened or dead, they often curl slightly or simply dessicate. The object in the image appears to be a dried-out specimen or a shed skin (exuvia) left behind after molting.
Risks & Benefits
Risks: Can cause significant damage to clothing, carpets, upholstery, and taxidermy. Some people may have allergic reactions to the hairs/bristles of carpet beetle larvae. Benefits: In nature, they act as decomposers of dead animal matter.
Identified on: 2/22/2026