Carpet Beetle Larva (possibly Black Carpet Beetle or Varied Carpet Beetle)

Natural Habitat

Indoor environments, particularly in undisturbed areas where organic materials accumulate, such as carpets, rugs, upholstered furniture, closets, attics, and even in stored food products or museum collections. Also found outdoors in bird nests, animal carcasses, and spider webs.

Diet & Feeding

Scavengers that feed on a wide variety of dried animal and plant products, including wool, silk, feathers, fur, leather, animal bristles, pet hair, dead insects, cereals, dried meat, and occasionally synthetic fibers when mixed with natural ones.

Behavior Patterns

Larvae are the damaging stage, often found in dark, undisturbed areas. They are slow-moving and tend to curl up when disturbed. They undergo several molts, and their shed skins (exuviae) can often be found along with fecal pellets, indicating an infestation. Adults are typically attracted to light and may be found near windows, but they are not the damaging stage in homes.

Risks & Benefits

Risks: Can cause significant damage to household items made of natural fibers, textiles, museum specimens, taxidermy, and stored food products. Some individuals may experience allergic reactions (dermatitis) to their bristles or shed skins. Benefits: In natural environments, they play a role in decomposition, breaking down animal carcasses and organic debris. Some species are used in forensic entomology to help estimate time of death due to their predictable colonization of carrion.

Identified on: 10/22/2025