Black Carpet Beetle

Indoors within homes, specifically in carpets, closets, pantries, baseboards, and upholstered furniture; outdoors under tree bark or in bird/insect nests.

Adults feed outdoors on pollen and nectar; larvae feed on animal-based natural fibers such as wool, silk, feathers, fur, leather, hair, and stored food products like grains and pet food.

Adults are attracted to light and often found near windows. Females lay eggs in dark, undisturbed areas containing larval food sources. The larval stage is long (several months to over a year) and causes the primary damage through chewing on organic materials.

Risks: Larvae are household pests that cause damage to clothing, carpets, upholstered items, and stored dry foods. Hairs from larvae can cause skin irritation or allergic reactions in sensitive individuals. Benefits: Outdoors, adults assist in plant pollination, and larvae help break down animal matter in nature.