Carpet Beetle Larva

Found indoors in carpets, closets, drawers, and near baseboards; outdoors in bird nests or bees nests. They thrive in dark, undisturbed areas where organic fibers accumulate.

Larvae feed on natural animal fibers such as wool, fur, silk, feathers, felt, leather, and dead insects. They can also feed on dried plant products.

The larvae move slowly and prefer dark, secluded places. They are known as 'woolly bears' due to their bristles. When disturbed, they may roll up or play dead. They are pests of stored products and fabrics.

Risks: Major household pest that damages clothing, carpets, and upholstery made of natural fibers. The bristly hairs can cause skin irritation or allergic reactions (dermatitis) in some people. Benefits: In nature, they act as decomposers of dried animal matter.