Carpet Beetle (likely Black Carpet Beetle)

Natural Habitat

Indoors, commonly found in homes, museums, and storage areas. They prefer dark, undisturbed places like closets, under furniture, in carpets, and near baseboards.

Diet & Feeding

Adults feed on pollen and nectar outdoors. The larvae are pests that feed on natural fibers, including wool, silk, fur, feathers, leather, pet hair, and dried plant products.

Behavior Patterns

Adults are attracted to light and often found near windowsills. Larvae avoid light and are the destructive stage, often wandering quite far from their food source in search of new materials or a place to pupate. They typically have a 1-3 year life cycle.

Risks & Benefits

Risks: Larvae can cause significant damage to carpets, clothing, upholstery, and stored food products. Some people may experience allergic dermatitis from contact with larval hairs. Benefit: In nature, they help decompose animal matter.

Identified on: 2/16/2026