Black Carpet Beetle

Commonly found indoors in carpets, closets, upholstery, and stored kitchen products; outdoors in nests of birds, rodents, or insects.

Larvae feed on animal products like wool, silk, fur, feathers, and hair, as well as dried plant materials; adults feed on pollen and nectar.

They are known for their slow development from egg to adult, which can take up to three years depending on environmental conditions; they are often noticed when they crawl toward light sources.

They are considered household pests because the larvae can damage natural fibers and stored food; they do not bite humans but larval hairs can cause allergic skin reactions in some people.