Varied Carpet Beetle

Indoors in homes, warehouses, and museums; outdoors on flowers and in bird nests.

Larvae eat carpets, wool, feathers, furs, and stored food; adults feed on pollen and nectar.

Adults are active during late spring and summer and are attracted to light. Larvae avoid light and can live for hundreds of days without food.

Major household pest damaging natural fibers and fabrics; larval hairs can cause allergic skin reactions in some people.