Varied Carpet Beetle

Typically found indoors in carpets, upholstery, and stored fabrics, or outdoors in bird nests and on flowering plants.

Adults feed on pollen and nectar; larvae feed on natural animal fibers like wool, silk, feathers, fur, and dead insects.

Adults are attracted to light and often found near windows; larvae are secretive, photophobic (avoid light), and can live for hundreds of days before pupating.

Risks include damage to household textiles and allergic reactions (dermatitis) caused by the larval hairs. They serve an ecological benefit by acting as scavengers that break down organic keratin-based debris in nature.