Varied Carpet Beetle

Typically found indoors in homes, museums, and warehouses, specifically in carpets, woolen fabrics, and stored food products. Outdoors, they are found on flowers.

Larvae feed on natural fibers like wool, fur, silk, and feathers, as well as dead insects and dried food products. Adults feed primarily on pollen and nectar.

Adults are attracted to light and often found near windowsills. The destructive larvae prefer dark, undisturbed areas where they can feed on organic material.

The primary risk is damage to property (clothes, rugs, upholstered furniture) caused by the larvae. The hairs on the larvae can also cause allergic skin reactions (carpet beetle dermatitis) in some people. They do not bite or sting humans.