Varied Carpet Beetle

Widely distributed in homes, museums, and warehouses; often found near windows, carpets, upholstery, and stored fabrics.

Adults feed on pollen and nectar. Larvae feed on natural fibers, feathers, fur, hair, skin, and stored food products.

The insect undergoes complete metamorphosis (egg, larva, pupa, adult). Larvae avoid light (photophobic), whereas adults are attracted to light and often fly toward windows.

The larvae are significant pests that can damage clothing, carpets, and collections. They do not bite or sting, but contact with larval hairs can cause 'carpet beetle dermatitis' (an allergic reaction) in sensitive individuals. They serve an ecosystem benefit as scavengers of organic debris in nature.