Carpet beetle (likely Black Carpet Beetle larva or similar species)

Natural Habitat

Indoors in homes, museums, warehouses, and other structures. Larvae prefer dark, undisturbed areas. Outdoors, they can be found in nests of birds, rodents, or insects, and on animal carcasses.

Diet & Feeding

Larvae feed on a wide variety of organic materials including wool, felt, furs, feathers, silk, animal skins, dried meat, dead insects, museum specimens, taxidermy, and occasionally cereals and dry pet food. Adults feed on pollen and nectar outdoors but do not feed on household goods.

Behavior Patterns

Larvae are generally found in dark, secluded places like under furniture, behind baseboards, in closets, or within fabric items. They are slow-moving and often curl up when disturbed. They undergo several molts before pupating. Adults are often attracted to light and may be found near windows. The entire life cycle can take several months to a year.

Risks & Benefits

Potential risks include significant damage to natural fibers (carpets, clothing, upholstered furniture, furs, stored food products) and museum collections. Some individuals may experience dermestid dermatitis due to contact with larval hairs. They are generally not harmful to humans directly (do not bite or sting). Benefits include being detritivores, helping to break down organic matter in nature, and are sometimes used in forensics to estimate post-mortem interval.

Identified on: 11/18/2025