Carpet Beetle

Indoors: Carpets, rugs, upholstered furniture, clothing, museums, occasionally outdoors in bird nests or under bark.

Larvae feed on natural fibers such as wool, silk, fur, feathers, leather, and stored food products; adults feed on pollen and nectar.

Larvae are destructive pests, feeding on organic materials. Adults are attracted to light and often found near windows. They undergo complete metamorphosis.

Risks: Can cause significant damage to household items, textiles, and museum specimens. Can cause allergic reactions (dermatitis) in some sensitive individuals due to larval hairs. Benefits: In nature, they are decomposers, helping to break down animal remains.