Carpet beetle

Indoors, especially in areas with lint, pet hair, wool, silk, feathers, or food crumbs; outdoors, they are found in nests of birds and mammals, or feeding on pollen.

Adults feed on pollen and nectar; larvae feed on animal products like wool, fur, feathers, leather, dead insects, and dried foods. They are scavengers.

Larvae are the damaging stage, eating natural fibers. Adults are often found near windows as they are attracted to light, or near food sources like flowers. They undergo complete metamorphosis.

Risks: Can cause significant damage to household items made of natural fibers (carpets, clothing, furniture). They are not known to bite humans or transmit diseases (though some people might experience skin irritation from their britles). Benefits: In nature, they play a role in decomposition, consuming animal carcasses and shed materials.