Carpet beetle (likely a varied carpet beetle or furniture carpet beetle)

Natural Habitat

Indoors, commonly found in homes, museums, and warehouses. They prefer dark, undisturbed areas. Outdoors, they can be found in nests of birds and other animals.

Diet & Feeding

Larvae feed on a variety of organic materials of animal origin, including wool, silk, fur, feathers, leather, dried meat, dried insects, and even some plant-based materials like grains and spices. Adult beetles feed on pollen and nectar.

Behavior Patterns

The larval stage is responsible for damage to household items. They are slow-moving and tend to conceal themselves in fabrics or cracks. Adults are attracted to light and often fly to windows. Their life cycle typically involves egg, several larval instars, pupa, and adult stages, which can take several months to a year depending on conditions.

Risks & Benefits

Risks: Can cause significant damage to household goods, clothing, carpets, and museum specimens by eating holes in natural fibers. They do not bite or transmit diseases. Benefits: In natural environments, they play a role as scavengers, breaking down organic matter. They are sometimes used in museums to clean skeletons of small animals for display.

Identified on: 11/15/2025