Carpet Beetle (Likely Black or Varied Carpet Beetle)
Scientific Name: Attagenus unicolor (Black) or Anthrenus verbasci (Varied)
Order & Family: Order: Coleoptera; Family: Dermestidae
Size: Typically 1.7 to 3.5 mm in length
Natural Habitat
Often found indoors in dark, undisturbed areas like closets, attics, and underneath furniture; outdoors in bird nests or on flowers.
Diet & Feeding
Larvae feed on natural fibers like wool, silk, fur, leather, and pet hair; adults feed on pollen and nectar.
Behavior Patterns
Adults are attracted to light and often found near windowsills. They lay eggs near food sources. The larvae are the damaging stage, eating organic fibers.
Risks & Benefits
Risks: Larvae can cause significant damage to clothing, carpets, and upholstery made of natural fibers; can cause skin irritation in some people (carpet beetle dermatitis). Benefits: In nature, they help decompose dead organic matter.
Identified on: 2/27/2026