Varied Carpet Beetle

Natural Habitat

Typically found indoors in homes, museums, and warehouses. They thrive in dark, undisturbed areas like carpets, closets, inside upholstered furniture, or near baseboards where lint and hair accumulate. Outdoors, adults are found on flowers.

Diet & Feeding

Adults feed on pollen and nectar. The larvae (which look like small fuzzy caterpillars) are the destructive phase, feeding on natural fibers such as wool, fur, silk, feathers, dead insects, and dried pet food.

Behavior Patterns

Adults are attracted to light and often found near windowsills. They lay eggs near food sources. The larvae are photophobic (avoid light) and tend to graze across fabrics rather than staying in one spot, causing sporadic irregular holes.

Risks & Benefits

They do not bite or sting humans and carry no known diseases. However, the larvae are significant household pests that can cause extensive damage to clothing, carpets, and stored biological collections. Some people may have allergic reactions (Dermatitis) to the larval hairs.

Identified on: 2/19/2026