Varied carpet beetle (likely larva or shed skin)

Homes, museums, warehouses, and bird or rodent nests, especially where dry organic material accumulates.

Larvae consume wool, fur, feathers, silk, shed skin, dead insects, and other keratin-rich materials. Adults mainly feed on pollen and nectar.

Larvae hide in dark, undisturbed places and may persist for months to years; adults emerge seasonally and are attracted to light and windows. The pictured object may be a larva, shed skin, or debris rather than an adult.

Larvae can damage clothes, carpets, upholstery, and natural-history specimens; their hairs may cause mild skin or respiratory irritation. Adults pollinate flowers and help decompose animal materials.