Carpet beetle

Indoor environments such as homes, warehouses, museums, and natural habitats like bird nests or rodent burrows outdoors.

Larvae feed on animal-based materials including wool, silk, leather, feathers, hair, and stored dried plant materials.

Adults are often found near windows trying to get outside, feeding on pollen and nectar. Females lay eggs in dark, undisturbed areas where larvae hatch and actively feed, avoiding light.

Risks include significant damage to carpets, clothing, fabrics, and collections of natural history specimens. Adults are harmless to humans and play a minor role as pollinators outdoors.