Varied Carpet Beetle

Commonly found indoors on carpets, woolens, upholstery, and stored natural items; outdoors in bird nests and on flowers.

Larvae consume keratin-based materials (wool, fur, feathers, silk, dead insects); adults primarily feed on pollen and nectar.

Adults are attracted to light and often found near windows; larvae avoid light and feed in dark, undisturbed places like closet corners or under furniture.

Larvae are significant household pests that damage clothing, carpets, and museum specimens. Their shedding hairs can cause allergic skin reactions (carpet beetle dermatitis) in some people.