Carpet Beetle

Indoors, carpet beetles are often found in dark, undisturbed areas such as closets, attics, under furniture, along baseboards, and in air ducts where lint, pet hair, or dead insects accumulate. Outdoors, adults can be found on flowering plants.

Larvae feed on a variety of animal-derived products, including wool, silk, fur, feathers, leather, dead insects, and pet hair. Adults typically feed on pollen and nectar from outdoor plants.

Carpet beetles undergo complete metamorphosis with four life stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. The larval stage is responsible for most of the damage as they feed on natural fibers. Adults are active fliers and are attracted to light.

Potential risks include damage to clothing, carpets, upholstery, and other natural fiber products. Rarely, some individuals may experience skin irritation (dermatitis) from contact with bristles from the larvae, though they do not bite. They are not known to transmit diseases. Benefits are minimal in household settings, but in nature, they play a role in decomposition.