Carpet Beetle

Natural Habitat

Commonly found indoors in homes, warehouses, and pantries, near wool, silk, feathers, or food storage. Outdoors, they can be found in bird or rodent nests.

Diet & Feeding

Larvae feed on high-protein animal products like wool, hair, feathers, and dead insects. Adults primarily feed on pollen and nectar from flowers.

Behavior Patterns

Larvae are generally nocturnal and avoid light, while adults are attracted to light and often found near windows. They undergo a complete metamorphosis with long larval stages that cause the most damage.

Risks & Benefits

They are major household pests that cause damage to clothing, upholstery, and stored food. They do not bite humans, but larval hairs can cause allergic skin reactions (dermatitis) in sensitive individuals.

Identified on: 5/27/2026