Varied Carpet Beetle

Natural Habitat

Indoors: Carpets, rugs, upholstered furniture, closets, attics, storage areas, around baseboards, and in lint traps. Outdoors: Nests of birds, mammals, and insects (like bees and wasps), where they feed on organic debris. Adults are found on flowers.

Diet & Feeding

Larvae feed on a variety of animal and plant products, including wool, silk, feathers, leather, furs, dried meats, museum specimens, taxidermy, and even dried plant material. Adults feed on pollen and nectar from outdoor flowers.

Behavior Patterns

Larvae prefer dark, undisturbed areas. They are negatively phototactic (avoid light) and positively thigmotactic (prefer tight spaces). Adults are attracted to light and often found near windows. They undergo complete metamorphosis.

Risks & Benefits

Risks: Larvae are common household pests that can cause significant damage to natural fibers, textiles, and museum collections. They do not bite or sting humans, but their bristles can cause skin irritation in some individuals (dermatitis). Benefits: In nature, they act as scavengers, breaking down dead organic material.

Identified on: 8/25/2025