Carpet Beetle Larva

Found indoors in dark, undisturbed areas like closets, drawers, under furniture, in carpets, and near natural fibers.

Larvae feed on natural fibers such as wool, silk, fur, feathers, hair, leather, and dead insects.

The larvae (often called 'woolly bears') are slow-moving and avoid light. They go through several molts before pupating. Adults are attracted to light and feed on pollen.

Risks: Can cause significant damage to clothing, carpets, upholstery, and museum specimens. Some people may experience allergic skin reactions (dermatitis) from the bristly hairs of the larvae. Benefits: In nature, they help decompose dead animal matter.