Carpet Beetle Larva

Natural Habitat

Typically found indoors in dark, undisturbed areas such as under furniture, in closets, along baseboards, and in carpets or rugs.

Diet & Feeding

Feeds on natural fibers and keratin-rich materials, including wool, silk, fur, feathers, hair, dead insects, and lint.

Behavior Patterns

Larvae prefer dark, secluded places and move slowly. They are the destructive stage of the life cycle. After pupating, they become small, round beetles that are attracted to light and often found on windowsills.

Risks & Benefits

Risks: The larvae can cause significant damage to clothing, carpets, upholstered furniture, and museum specimens by eating holes in fabrics. The tiny hairs on the larvae can cause skin irritation or dermatitis (carpet beetle dermatitis) in sensitive individuals. Benefits: In nature, they act as decomposers of animal matter.

Identified on: 2/21/2026