Varied Carpet Beetle

Typically found indoors in homes, museums, and warehouses; outdoors they are found in bird or insect nests and on flowers. They prefer dark, secluded places like closets, attics, under furniture, or in air ducts.

Adults feed on pollen and nectar. The larvae (which look like small fuzzy caterpillars) are the pests, feeding on natural fibers containing keratin, such as wool, silk, fur, feathers, hair, pet dander, and dried insect specimens.

Adults are attracted to light and often found near windowsills, trying to get outside to mate. Larvae are photophobic (avoid light) and actively forage for food in dark corners. They undergo complete metamorphosis (egg, larva, pupa, adult).

Risks: The larvae can cause significant damage to carpets, clothing (wool/silk), upholstered furniture, and museum collections. Some people may develop allergic skin reactions (dermatitis) from contact with the larval hairs. Benefits: In nature, they act as decomposers by breaking down dead animal matter.