Carpet Beetle (likely Varied Carpet Beetle or Black Carpet Beetle)
Scientific Name: Anthrenus verbasci (Varied) or Attagenus unicolor (Black)
Order & Family: Order: Coleoptera; Family: Dermestidae
Size: Typically 1.7 to 3.5 mm in length
Natural Habitat
Found indoors in homes, museums, and warehouses often near natural fibers like wool carpets, clothes, stuffed animals, or stored food products. Often found on window sills.
Diet & Feeding
Larvae feed on natural animal fibers (wool, silk, fur, feathers), dried plant products, dead insects, and pet hair. Adults feed on pollen and nectar outdoors.
Behavior Patterns
Larvae prefer dark, undisturbed areas to feed. Adults are attracted to light and often found trying to exit homes through windows. They undergo complete metamorphosis.
Risks & Benefits
Risks: The larvae can cause significant damage to clothing, carpets, and upholstered furniture. Hairs on larvae can cause allergic dermatitis in some people. Benefits: They act as decomposers in nature, cleaning up dead organic matter.
Identified on: 2/24/2026