Carpet beetle larvae

Natural Habitat

Indoors, commonly found in homes, museums, warehouses. They prefer dark, undisturbed areas like under furniture, in closets, attics, and behind baseboards. They are often associated with carpets, woolens, furs, taxidermy, stored food products, and insect collections.

Diet & Feeding

Opportunistic scavengers. Their primary diet consists of animal products such as wool, silk, fur, feathers, leather, dead insects, pet hair, and dried animal remains. They can also feed on plant-based materials like grains, cereals, and plant-based fibers.

Behavior Patterns

Larvae are slow-moving and tend to avoid light, often found burrowed within infested materials. They undergo several molts (instars) and their shed skins (exuviae) are often a sign of an infestation. The larval stage can last for months or even years depending on environmental conditions and food availability. Adults are typically outside feeders, often found on flowers.

Risks & Benefits

Potential risks include significant damage to natural fibers (carpets, clothing, upholstery, museum specimens), stored food items, and insect collections. They can cause allergic reactions in some sensitive individuals due to their bristly hairs. Generally, there are no direct benefits to humans, but in natural environments, some species contribute to decomposition.

Identified on: 9/5/2025