Carpet Beetle (likely Varied Carpet Beetle or Black Carpet Beetle)

Natural Habitat

Indoors, commonly found in homes, museums, and storage areas. They prefer dark, undisturbed places like carpets, rugs, upholstered furniture, closets, attics, and around baseboards.

Diet & Feeding

Larvae feed on a variety of animal and plant products, including natural fibers (wool, silk, fur, feathers), animal carcasses, dried pet food, cereal products, and museum specimens. Adults primarily feed on pollen and nectar outdoors.

Behavior Patterns

Larvae are the destructive stage, feeding on various materials. They are slow-moving and tend to avoid light. Adults are winged and often found near windows as they are attracted to light to seek opportunities to go outdoors for feeding. They undergo complete metamorphosis (egg, larva, pupa, adult).

Risks & Benefits

Potential risks include damage to fabrics, carpets, clothing, and other household items containing natural fibers. They can also damage museum collections. They are generally not harmful to humans directly, though some people may experience mild skin irritation from larval hairs. Benefits mostly relate to their outdoor adult stage as pollinators, but indoors they are considered pests.

Identified on: 10/1/2025