Carpet Beetle Larva

Natural Habitat

Indoors in homes and museums, feeding on animal products like wool, fur, feathers, and dried foods. Outdoors in nests of birds and mammals, or on carrion.

Diet & Feeding

Keratin-based materials (wool, fur, feathers, hair), dried animal products (dead insects, dried meat), and sometimes stored food products (cereal, pet food).

Behavior Patterns

Larvae are often found in dark, undisturbed areas under carpets, rugs, in closets, or around baseboards. They are detritivores, scavenging on natural fibers and dead organic matter. They have a slow development cycle and can cause significant damage to textiles and stored goods over time. Adults primarily feed on pollen and nectar outdoors.

Risks & Benefits

Potential risks include significant damage to textiles (carpets, clothing, upholstery), museum specimens, and stored foods. They do not bite or spread disease to humans. Benefits are primarily in their natural ecological role as decomposers of animal remains in outdoor environments.

Identified on: 10/4/2025