Carpet beetle larva

Indoor homes, especially carpets, closets, upholstered furniture, and dark undisturbed areas; adults may occur outdoors on flowers.

Larvae eat keratin-rich materials such as wool, fur, feathers, hair, dead insects, and natural-fiber fabrics. Adults mainly consume pollen and nectar.

Larvae are slow-moving, bristly, and often hide; they shed distinctive hairs and can persist unnoticed in lint or pet-hair accumulations. Adults emerge seasonally and seek light or flowers.

Larvae can damage clothing, carpets, taxidermy, and other animal-derived materials; their hairs may irritate skin or airways. They help decompose animal remains outdoors, while adults pollinate flowers.