Bug Identifier
Varied carpet beetle (likely)
Community identification

Varied carpet beetle (likely)

Anthrenus verbasci

Order & Family
Coleoptera; Dermestidae
Size
Adults are about 1.5–3.5 mm long.
See this bug in the Encyclopedia

Natural Habitat

Indoors near windows, baseboards, upholstery, stored clothing, and dry organic debris; also outdoors on flowers.

Diet & Feeding

Adults feed mainly on pollen and nectar. Larvae consume keratin-rich materials such as wool, fur, feathers, dead insects, and natural-fiber textiles.

Behavior Patterns

Adults are small, roundish, and mottled; larvae are bristly and avoid light. They reproduce indoors where lint, pet hair, or undisturbed fabrics accumulate, and larvae may cause the noticeable damage.

Risks & Benefits

They do not bite or transmit disease, but larval hairs can irritate sensitive skin and infestations can damage clothing, carpets, and upholstery. Adults contribute to pollination outdoors and help recycle dead organic matter.