Carpet beetle larva (likely varied carpet beetle)
Anthrenus verbasci
- Order & Family
- Coleoptera; Dermestidae
- Size
- Larvae typically 2–4 mm when young and up to about 4–5 mm mature; adults are about 1.5–3 mm long.
Natural Habitat
Indoors, especially carpets, upholstery, closets, and poorly disturbed areas; adults occur outdoors on flowers. The pictured object is too small and indistinct for certain species-level identification.
Diet & Feeding
Larvae consume keratin-rich materials such as wool, fur, feathers, hair, dead insects, and natural-fiber fabrics. Adults mainly feed on pollen and nectar.
Behavior Patterns
Larvae hide in dark, undisturbed locations and molt repeatedly, leaving shed bristly skins and sometimes small fecal pellets. Adults are attracted to light and may enter through windows.
Risks & Benefits
Larvae can damage clothing, carpets, taxidermy, and other natural materials; their hairs may irritate sensitive skin or airways. They are decomposers that recycle animal-derived organic matter, while adults pollinate flowers.