Varied Carpet Beetle Larva

Natural Habitat

Found indoors in carpets, woolens, closets, vents, and beneath furniture where lint accumulates; outdoors found in bird nests or bees nests.

Diet & Feeding

Scavengers that feed on natural fibers (wool, silk, fur, feathers), dead insects, dried plant material, hair, pet dander, and occasionally stored food products.

Behavior Patterns

Larvae prefer dark, undisturbed areas. They molt several times as they grow, leaving behind clusters of empty, translucent skins (visible in the photo alongside the larva). Adults are attracted to light and are often found on windowsills.

Risks & Benefits

Risks: Major household pests that can cause significant damage to clothing, carpets, obscure textiles, and museum specimens. Their bristly hairs can cause allergic skin reactions (carpet beetle dermatitis) in some people. Benefits: In nature, they act as decomposers of dead animal matter.

Identified on: 3/3/2026