Carpet beetle larva

Natural Habitat

Indoors, specifically in dark, undisturbed areas like carpets, rugs, upholstered furniture, closets, attics, and museum collections. They thrive where natural fibers, pet dander, and dead insects are abundant.

Diet & Feeding

They are scavengers, feeding on a wide variety of animal and plant products, including wool, fur, feathers, silk, leather, museum specimens, dried food products, and dead insects.

Behavior Patterns

Larvae are the damaging stage, actively feeding and molting multiple times. They are often covered in bristles (setae), which can give them a 'hairy' or 'fuzzy' appearance. They tend to avoid light and hide in crevices and under furniture. Adults are small, oval beetles that fly and feed on pollen and nectar outdoors, often laying eggs indoors if conditions are suitable.

Risks & Benefits

Potential risks include significant damage to natural fiber textiles, clothing, carpets, upholstered furniture, and museum collections, leading to economic losses. Their bristles can also cause skin irritation or allergic reactions in sensitive individuals. They have no known benefits to humans in an indoor setting; outdoors, they can be part of the decomposer community, breaking down organic matter.

Identified on: 9/15/2025