Carpet Beetle Larva

Natural Habitat

Indoors in dark, undisturbed locations such as under carpets, in closets, along baseboards, and within upholstered furniture. Also found in animal nests outdoors.

Diet & Feeding

Larvae feed on natural fibers and materials of animal origin, including wool, silk, leather, fur, feathers, hair, and dead insects. They are a common pest of textiles and museum collections.

Behavior Patterns

This is the larval stage, which is the primary feeding and destructive stage. They are slow-moving and avoid light. As they grow, they molt and leave behind cast, bristly skins. The full life cycle can take several months to over a year, depending on conditions.

Risks & Benefits

Risks: Considered a significant household pest due to the damage larvae cause to carpets, clothing, and other natural fiber items. The bristly hairs on the larvae can cause skin irritation or allergic reactions in some people. Benefits: In nature, they play a useful role as scavengers, cleaning up dead insects and animal debris.

Identified on: 11/2/2025