Carpet Beetle

Natural Habitat

Indoors, commonly found in homes, museums, warehouses, and other buildings where food sources are available. Outdoors, they can be found in nests of birds and rodents.

Diet & Feeding

Varied, including natural fibers (wool, silk, fur, leather), dried animal products (dead insects, pet food, taxidermy), stored food products (grains, cereals, spices), and sometimes pollen.

Behavior Patterns

Dermestid beetles are known for their ability to digest keratin, making them useful in natural history museums for cleaning skeletons. They are often found in dark, undisturbed areas. Larvae are typically the most damaging stage, as they do most of the feeding. Adults are attracted to light.

Risks & Benefits

Potential risks include damage to personal belongings (clothing, carpets), stored food products, and museum collections. Some people may experience allergic reactions to beetle hairs. Benefits include their use in dermestid colonies for skeleton cleaning in scientific settings, and their role as decomposers in nature.

Identified on: 8/27/2025