Varied Carpet Beetle (Larva)

Found indoors in cupboards, under baseboards, and in stored textile or food areas; outdoors in bird and wasp nests.

Scavengers that feed on natural fibers like wool, silk, fur, feathers, and dead insects, as well as some dried food products.

Larvae are slow-moving and prefer dark, secluded areas where they can feed undisturbed; they undergo many molts, leaving behind shed skins.

They are household pests that damage carpets, clothing, and furniture. Their bristly hairs can cause 'carpet beetle dermatitis' (allergic skin reactions) in sensitive individuals. They do not bite or spread disease.