Carpet beetle larva

Indoors, especially in carpets, upholstery, closets, and beneath furniture; also found outdoors on flowers and in bird or wasp nests.

Larvae eat keratin-rich animal materials such as wool, fur, feathers, hair, leather, and dead insects. Adults mainly feed on pollen and nectar.

Larvae are slow-moving, brown and hairy, and may curl when disturbed; they hide in dark, undisturbed areas and shed bristly skins. Adults are small, rounded beetles that emerge to reproduce.

Larvae can damage natural-fiber clothing, carpets, and stored specimens; their hairs may cause minor skin or respiratory irritation. Adults pollinate flowers, and larvae help recycle dead organic material.