Carpet Beetle (likely Varied Carpet Beetle or Black Carpet Beetle larva)

Natural Habitat

Indoors, typically in undisturbed areas, closets, attics, under furniture, pantries, and around pet bedding. Outdoors, they can be found in nests of birds or insects.

Diet & Feeding

Larvae are scavengers and feed on a wide variety of organic materials of animal origin, including wool, silk, leather, fur, feathers, pet hair, dried meats, museum specimens, and pantry items like cereals and grains. Adult carpet beetles feed on pollen and nectar outdoors.

Behavior Patterns

Carpet beetle larvae often hide in dark, undisturbed places and can be found by their shed skins and fecal pellets. They are slow-moving. Adults are typically active in the spring and early summer and are attracted to light, sometimes flying indoors through open windows or doors. They undergo complete metamorphosis (egg, larva, pupa, adult).

Risks & Benefits

Potential Risks: Carpet beetle larvae are common household pests that can cause significant damage to textiles, clothing, carpets, upholstered furniture, and stored food products. They do not bite humans but can cause skin irritation (dermatitis) in some sensitive individuals due to their bristle-like hairs. Potential Benefits: In nature, they play a role as decomposers, helping to break down organic matter.

Identified on: 9/5/2025