Carpet Beetle (appears to be a varied carpet beetle or black carpet beetle based on shape and common small size)

Natural Habitat

Indoors: Carpets, rugs, upholstered furniture, closets, museums, food pantries, cracks and crevices where lint and pet hair accumulate. Outdoors: Nests of birds, rodents, and insects, flowers (adults).

Diet & Feeding

Larvae feed on a wide variety of organic materials including wool, silk, feathers, leather, dried foodstuffs (e.g., cereals, pasta, pet food), museum specimens, and sometimes even synthetic fibers. Adult beetles primarily feed on pollen and nectar, but generally do not feed indoors.

Behavior Patterns

Dermestid beetle larvae are typically found in dark, undisturbed areas where their food sources are abundant. They are known to infest pantries, museums, and homes. The larvae are often more destructive than the adults. Adults can fly and lay eggs in suitable food sources. They tend to be nocturnal.

Risks & Benefits

Risks: Considered a household and museum pest. Larval feeding can cause significant damage to natural fibers, stored products, and museum collections. Some people may develop allergic reactions to the larval hairs. They do not bite or sting. Benefits: In nature, they are detritivores, playing a role in decomposition.

Identified on: 8/10/2025